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Last summer, I visited the EASTGRIP Ice Core Project in Greenland. It was an incredible experience. I saw with my own eyes the long ice-cores that are being carefully extracted from the Greenland ice stream.
I already knew that scientists could extract lots of interesting climate data from ice cores. But I didn’t, honestly, fully comprehend just how much information is hidden in the ice.
The Arctic ice is an enormous archive of our shared human history. The thin sheets of ice are like pages in a history book. They give us glimpses into the past. And knowledge about our planet.
About wind and volcanos. Animal life. And the countless ways we humans have interfered with our surroundings.
From nuclear tests in the 1950s and 60s. To air pollution in the Roman Empire. We can see the history of the climate. The history of past civilisations and societies. And how they reacted and adapted to the climate change of their time.
It’s all right there, preserved in the ice.
The ice tells us where we come from. And where we are going.
And that is also why we are here today. The Arctic is unique for many reasons. The stunning nature, the unimaginable cold, the extraordinary animal life.
But especially for its impact on our planet. What happens there affects us all.
What happens in Vegas
Climate activist Kumi Naidoo explained it like this:
“You know how they say, ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?’ What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic”.
The Arctic is not only an important area to the Artic people. But to the whole world. Our climate, our environment, our security. It’s all affected by this great white region in the north.
Some of the world’s most important climate research is being conducted in the Arctic.
For decades and decades, we’ve been debating climate change. The effects, the speed, the consequences, the causes.
Governments, NGOs and people all over the world are trying to implement changes. Setting goals. Funding new green technologies and research.
It is crucial that we acquire scientific knowledge about the climate, so that we can base policies and solutions on hard evidence.
And we are lucky that we have people dedicated to providing this evidence. I don’t think I was aware of the level of dedication before I saw it with my own eyes last year. The incredibly rough and demanding conditions scientists work under in the Arctic.
Weeks and months living in an ice-cold and desolate camp.
Working day and night away from family and friends. Even encountering the occasional hungry polar bear.
That is dedication. To the cause, to the climate, and to science.
A call for collaboration
The climate isn’t the only thing that changes. In recent years, the geopolitical situation has changed too.
This has placed an increased focus on the Arctic region and consequently, on arctic science.
The environment is changing and the melting ice paves the way for new trade routes to emerge. And potential mineral deposits to be unearthed.
Arctic science plays an important part in how we - alongside Greenland and the Faroe Islands - prepare for this new geopolitical situation.
A better understanding of the Arctic can help us prepare for the inevitable changes. It can inform our response to natural disasters, accidents, and new geopolitical circumstances. And it can help us understand and identify future economic interests.
This knowledge is valuable. And of strategic importance. Arctic science provides us with useful tools - data, instruments, sensors, methods and algorithms.
But we need strong partnerships and collaborations to make sure the knowledge we gain is utilised in the right way.
This calls for collaboration between Greenlandic, Faroese and Danish authorities, as well as like-minded international partners.
As well as between universities and research institutions across the three countries.
Someone's home
Collaboration really is key in all of our scientific activities within the Arctic. Also, when it comes to the Arctic communities.
The Arctic needs to be protected and supported, but it also needs to be respected. As an ecosystem. And as communities.
This means that the people of Greenland and The Faroe Islands are an integral part of Arctic research.
We have a responsibility to consider local perspectives and interests when we are operating in the Arctic.
That is why, in 2024, the Danish government earmarked 50 million kroner to Arctic research on climate change and sustainable Arctic communities. The intention is to gain knowledge about how
climate change affects cultures and societies in the Arctic.
A solid principle - that is also emphasised by the Greenlandic government in their new foreign policy strategy - is that nothing which concerns the Faroe Islands and Greenland should be decided without including the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
And the same principle can be applied to Arctic science.
The Arctic is not a resource for ours – or anyone else’s – exploitation.
It’s someone’s home, and international researchers are guests.
This approach requires strong local frameworks for research and collaboration. And I think The Arctic Hub in Greenland is a prime example that it can be done.
The Hub effectively bridges research and society. And ensures that knowledge obtained in Greenland also benefits locally. And that is the right way forward.
Ground truth
Today, a lot of knowledge about the Arctic comes from advanced technology like satellites, radars and computer models.
But when it comes down to it, Arctic science is first and foremost about the ice-sheets, the ecosystems, and the Arctic communities.
And if we want to understand all the underlying nuances, then scientists have to actually be in the Arctic. Out in the nature.
I have heard that some scientists refer to this as "ground truth".
As the world becomes more complex and the challenges ahead become more urgent, ground truth becomes even more crucial. In finding the best solutions and preparing for the changes ahead.
The Arctic ice has always told the story. Of who we were, who we are and where we’re going. Science has taught us how to listen.
And science holds the key to a sustainable development in the entire Arctic region.
Thank you.