Published: 26 Nov 2010
This week the Government of Greenland and
the European Environment Agency signed an
agreement aimed at improving bilateral cooperation
in environmental monitoring and sharing
environmental data and information. Environmental
data obtained in Greenland and the Arctic
in general play a key role in monitoring
environmental change around the globe.
This agreement strengthens
the Greenland and Arctic dimension in international
environmental perspectives. The EEA considers
Greenland as an important partner in the
effort to strengthen the information for
decision makers on the environment in the
Arctic.
Prof. Jacqueline McGlade,
Executive Director of the EEA
Various other issues
The cooperation agreement was signed by
Anthon Frederickson, Member of the Minister
for Domestic Affairs, Nature and the Environment
and Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive
Director of the EEA.
‘This agreement strengthens
the Greenland and Arctic dimension in international
environmental perspectives. The EEA considers
Greenland as an important partner in the
effort to strengthen the information for
decision makers on the environment in the
Arctic’, said Prof. McGlade.
Mr. Frederickson added,
‘I'm very pleased with the cooperation agreement
with the EEA. It is Naalakkersuisut's desire
to strengthen the knowledge base internationally
on Greenland and Arctic environmental issues.
The environment in Greenland is influenced
from the outside world, and that the international
community needs to know about the conditions
in Greenland and the Arctic.’
The cooperation agreement
aims to improve the quality and timeliness
of environmental assessments and trends
in Greenland, the Arctic region and the
wider Europe and ensures Greenland’s access
to a pan-European environmental network.
Closer cooperation and better data flows
from Greenland will also enhance the understanding
of the impact of Europe on the environment
in Greenland, while reinforcing Greenland’s
importance for the global environment. The
sound knowledge base resulting from this
cooperation agreement can form the basis
for the necessary decisions on environmental
improvement in Greenland and beyond. The
agreement also foresees an exchange of staff
between the Government of Greenland and
the EEA, in order for both parties to exchange
expertise and cooperate concretely on expanding
their network activities.
