Many industries in Greenland, tourism being one of them, have called for political action on climate and sustainability. By Greenland joining the Paris Agreement, the Government of Greenland is helping to signal that there will be a focus on the climate challenges in the future and that we want to be part of the solution as a country.
“In this way, Greenland will be able to achieve a comprehensive strategy that can help support the tourism industry’s initiatives for sustainable and resilient tourism development. A tourism development that will create local initiatives and jobs and ensure the preservation and dissemination of nature and culture,” says Hjörtur Smárason, CEO of Visit Greenland.
Greenland has a unique opportunity to disseminate knowledge about adapting to and living with climate change. One of these knowledge hubs is the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre, which opened in July 2021 in the midst of the Covid crisis.
The Greenlandic people have always had a deep connection to the ice, and they have long lived alongside the harsh realities of climate change. Therefore, it is fitting that the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre celebrates the ice and shows how the Greenlandic people have survived and adapted to a changing world. These innovative adaptation skills can serve as an inspiration to the world.
While the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre gives the world a chance to learn about climate change first-hand, tourism development in Greenland is one of the ways local hunters and fishermen adapt to changing conditions, for example, caused by rising temperatures and a lack of sea ice.
“And they are worth their weight in gold to the industry, as they possess an unrivalled knowledge of nature, local conditions and everything that goes into making Greenland a destination that IS authentic, not just tries to be,” concludes Hjörtur Smárason.
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