Photo: Jørgen Chemnitz
– In recent years and on many fronts, the Arctic has been undergoing intensive, discernible change. While global climate change is often cited as a key factor for many current development trends, climate is not the main driver of change in Arctic communities. Specifically in Greenland’s case, for instance, our society is being reshaped by the economic and social changes taking place and the new phase of internationalisation emerging in Greenlandic society. Although only 57 000 people live in Greenland, it is a very visible part of the Arctic. It can be overwhelming to try to live up to both our own and the rest of the world’s expectations, so we need more knowledge in a great many areas. – I am looking forward to NordForsk’s Arctic research programme ‘Responsible Development of the Arctic: Opportunities and Challenges – Pathways to Action’. I hope its results will be applied at the political level, both nationally and internationally, such as in the Arctic Council. I would like to see the programme’s findings reflect both international collaboration and knowledge produced with local participation and expertise. Most important of all is that the programme helps to strengthen research cooperation and competencebuilding in the Arctic region.
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