The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of October 18, 2021
Public Building Renovation Costs Rise in Greenland
Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa reported on October 20 that the Greenlandic Minister for Housing, Infrastructure, Minerals, Justice, and Gender Equality had stated that the increasing backlog of public housing renovation works is costing the government nearly 500,000 DKK (78,200 USD) a day. With the total renovation costs now standing at nearly 2 billion DDK (313 million USD), the government is organising for a push to have more Greenlandic citizens become independent homeowners and not be depended on social housing. The statement came as a response to questions posed to the minister by members of the Democratic Party of Greenland during a parliamentary session. (Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa)
Take 1: Although Greenlandic independence is increasingly being called for by the major parties of Greenland, its economy remains deeply dependent on its fishing exports and the annual block grant of 3.9 billion DDK (610.4 million USD) given by the Danish Government. With renovation of public buildings now set to cost over 2 billion DDK (313 million USD), approximately half of the annual grant from Denmark, the Greenlandic government looks to renovate a large portion of properties before pursuing its goal of increasing private ownership of housing. The results are likely to be a further deficit in the Greenlandic government budget. This connects with a deeper issue that is likely to form as part of the debate on any significant public spending, namely that Greenlandic independence continues to be undermined by insufficient economic development and diversification. The choice to increase private ownership of housing in Greenland gives a clear indication that the government, despite being nominally democratic socialist, is pursuing partially centrist economic policies to reduce government expenditure. It appears that the separatist side of Inuit Ataqatigiit is the dominant factor of the government’s housing policy. The way the newly formed government seeks to tackle and renovate these buildings may therefore give an indication of how it chooses to run its public finances, and the relationship it will create with the government in Copenhagen. (BBC)
De Beers Leads Diamond Exploration on the Greenlandic Seabed
Berlingske Tidende of Denmark reported on October 20 on the September exploration of the Greenlandic West Coast by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (an institute under the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities.) Carried out on behalf of diamond mining firm De Beers, the survey seeks to discover if diamonds have ended up on the western seabed during the movement of tectonic plates and melting of ice caps. This search for diamond sources in the sea follows closely on the success De Beers has had with its offshore diamond mining operations off the coast of Namibia. (Berlingske Tidende)
Take 2: As climate change alters conditions in the Arctic, many companies are becoming increasingly interested in exploring the Arctic seabed and the island of Greenland- both of which are said to contain vast quantities of minerals and other raw resources. De Beers’ latest survey on the Greenlandic seabed is part of this push for mineral exploration, which is of particular interest as it is carried out by The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, an institute of the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities. While the current Greenlandic government has halted a mining project for uranium, it continues to uphold previously granted mining exploration rights, including the survey of the seabed this September. With the Danish government’s attempts to formulate itself as a green leader and the Greenlandic ministry having already banned drilling for oil in the area over climate concerns, the mineral drilling of the Arctic may become a sensitive issue for the Danes and their green image at COP26. The issue of Arctic mining is therefore also likely to heighten tensions between the Greenlandic and Danish Government as Denmark attempts to formulate a green economic strategy with many parties, including the governing party in Greenland, which sees mineral exports as a fast-track to their long-sought independence from the Danish ‘igsfællesskab’ (commonwealth). Another issue for mineral exploration is the question of what companies get to extract the resources. While Danish geopolitical considerations and close ties with the United Kingdom and the United States favour western companies, the Greenlandic government has been approached multiple times by Chinese investors and Chinese state-owned companies that have been getting increasing access to the Greenlandic mainland. The future of the Greenlandic economy is therefore part of a far larger geopolitical question on the future of the Arctic. (GEUS)
United States Coast Guard Ship Patrol Arctic Waters as Scientists Take Readings
The Seattle Times reported on October 20 that the United States Coast Guard (USGS) cutter Healy is nearing completion of her marathon voyage through the North American Arctic from her homeport in Seattle. Captain Boda reported that the training mission had been a success but that the ice had been too thin for regular Arctic patrols. Larry Mayer, the director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire, stated that while the ice was thicker in the area than in previous years, it was primarily formed recently, with the older glaciers and thick floes that had largely disappeared. Another scientist, Robert Pickart of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, studied warmwater flows and the rate of melting of Greenlandic glaciers during the journey. (The Seattle Times)
Take 3: As the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) nears, the reduction of polar ice, especially older and thicker ice, is likely to concern the climate conference immensely. With the melting of the Greenlandic glaciers having potential disproportionate effects on the global climate due to their effects on sea-currents, it is quite possible that this issue will be discussed more in detail. Simultaneously, the patrolling is part of the US Coast Guards’ mission for an increased presence in the Arctic region, with the launching of several new icebreakers and patrol ships to be based in Seattle. As tensions increase in the Arctic with the thawing of ice and the opening of Arctic trade routes, the question of climate is becoming deeply intertwined with the geopolitical. (Inside Climate News)
Russia Seeks Closer Relations with the Greenlandic Government, Ambassador Confirms
Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq reported on October 17 that the Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin has expressed in an interview that Russia has a “great desire” to deepen relations with Greenland. The interview comes as the Greenlandic parliament is set to discuss a foreign policy statement on October 28 which details, among other things, the Russian desire for further cooperation. Mr. Barbin specified in his speech the need for cooperation and unity on fishing quotas and resource access, as well as scientific undertakings. (Sermitsiaq)
Take 4: Russia seems to be diversifying its methods of influencing the Arctic. Even as it is building up its naval capabilities for increased Arctic operation, Russia finds itself largely diplomatically isolated in a region where the remaining states are either part of NATO or enjoy closer ties with the United States than with the Russian Federation. Warming ties with Greenland, despite officially being mainly over fishing rights and scientific research, thus forms part of an early attempt to conduct a partial détente in the region while attempting to disrupt the United States’ diplomatic ties in the region. The uncertain relationship of Greenland with Denmark and the offensive stance taken by the Trump Administration towards the Greenlandic people’s desire to be an independent nation, rather than a bargaining chip, seems to have opened new channels with Greenland from the Russian foreign ministry’s perspective. While Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s recent visit has attempted to re-establish the United States diplomatic ties in the region, the new push from Russia towards the Greenlandic business interests means that the United States will likely need to make an increasingly concerted effort in the region to maintain its hegemony.
Nunavut Capital Extends State of Emergency Over Water Crisis as Plastic Pollution Increases
Global News and the National Observer reported on October 17 and 20 respectively that the Arctic city of Iqaluit is a week into a water crisis after the local water supply was found to be contaminated with fuel. After the Government of Nunavut and Iqaluit city council declared a state of local emergency on October 12, the Nunavut government began importing shipments of bottled water for residents to use. With almost 750,000 plastic bottles now littering the city due to inadequate waste disposal facilities, the government is sending back the empty containers for safe disposal further south. The authorities in Iqaluit will be extending the state of emergency for at least another week as the local water sources remain polluted. (Global News, The National Observer)
Take 5:The local state of emergency declared by the Government of Nunavut and Iqaluit city council over the contaminated water supply has highlighted the issues of underdevelopment and poor living conditions that many Arctic cities face. The problem therefore particularly highlights the ongoing neo-colonial issues that the Canadian government faces with Iqaluit comprising the majority of the population of the Inuit region of Nunavut. As the racism experienced by Inuit people in Canada is being increasingly acknowledged and debated, the response the Liberal Party has towards this development may impact the minority government formed following the recent elections. Apart from the social impacts, the decision by the local government to import large quantities of bottled water in plastic containers in response to the emergency has emphasized the ecological and environmental impact that a lack of proper waste disposal facilities can have in the Arctic. The National Observer says this inadequate waste infrastructure is partially due to historic and colonial factors, and is an issue that contributes to the problem of litter in many northern areas. As COP26 approaches, the Canadian government is likely to be scrutinised for the environmental impacts of the increased pollution in the Arctic region. With a dual incentive both to appear concerned with the lives of Inuit people and be active in the region, while also living up to its climate goals, the Canadian government is likely to take an increasing interest in local government affairs in the Canadian Arctic and the wider environmental concerns the area faces.