Historic Speech by the Prime Minister of Greenland

It is my great pleasure to warmly welcome you all to Greenland and to the Arctic Circle Greenland Forum 2022. It is caribou hunting season and many have gone hunting. Because we still live with and from our nature in modern Greenland as we have always done. Since without our nature we cannot be here.

In this Forum, we will discuss many important topics, such as climate change, prosperity, progress and geopolitics. I look forward to hearing the various debates and to the dialogue and the many exciting inputs that will come from you, participants. The whole world's eyes are on the Arctic, and in the last few years we have noticed a growing interest in the Arctic and Greenland. Apart from considerations regarding buying Greenland, which is not possible at all, the opportunities in the Arctic are great. Critical minerals, new opportunities due to climate change – including navigation opportunities where it was not possible before and not least our geographical location.

International politicians, business people, tourists and more travel to Greenland. And everyone is welcome. However, it must be on our terms. Greenland is the Arctic – and the Arctic is Greenland. One of the main topics we have to discuss in this Forum is climate change. I can see in the program that there are several interesting people who will talk about the topic and I look forward to getting the latest update from the climate scientists. We must all combat climate change. Because we live under the same sun. We live under the same stars. We are surrounded by the same ocean. We breathe the same air. When the ice melts in the Arctic – it is not only a challenge for the Inuit – but it affects the entire globe.

We are facing global climate challenges. We all come from the four corners of the world and we all have different challenges and opinions. However, we all stand on the same ground which is our Earth. We cannot avoid a global transition to renewable energy sources. Here in Greenland, we prioritize utilization of renewable energy. We are rich in water resources and we have vast possibilities to trade our renewable energy resources. In a couple of years 90 percent of our energy utilization will be from renewable energy.

We must continue to make environmentally conscious choices. Even though we live in a vast country and only are a few people we are contributing. And our fellow mankind should follow our lead. Because we live under the same sun. We live under the same stars. We are surrounded by the same ocean. We breathe the same air.

We want to be on the global stage. We want growth in Greenland. We want green and sustainable development. This must be on our terms. And you are welcome if you respect and listen to us. When the focus is on Greenland, it is us who are the decision makers – we are the ones who show which direction to go.

Another topic that will be the main theme in this Forum is geopolitics. What is happening in Ukraine is completely unacceptable. We must work for world peace. We must work to ensure that the next generation grows up in safe conditions. This summer we signed an agreement with Canada on the demarcation at Tartupaluk and the world's longest maritime border between our two countries. Reaching this agreement is indeed a remarkable political and diplomatic achievement of which we can all be proud. With this, we have also shown the outside world that we can and want peace in the Arctic. Who would not wish development without peace? The Arctic must be an area of low tension. Conflicts must be resolved in a peaceful manner.

You are welcome to have an opinion about geopolitics and Greenland, but decisions concerning Greenland must be made here. Nothing about us – without us. Finally, I would like to wish you a very good and productive Arctic Circle Greenland Forum. Moreover, remember that it is important that we collaborate across countries. Because we live under the same sun. We live under the same stars. We are surrounded by the same ocean. We breathe the same air.

Qujanaq!

No. 8/2022, 13 September 2022

This article is a part of the Arctic Circle Journal Series which provides insight, understanding and new information. The material represents the opinions of the author but not those of Arctic Circle.