Greenland can help international climate negotiations by identifying what it will do, not repeating what it won't, said Connie Hedegaard, Denmark's climate minister.
"The Faroe Islands will reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent in 2020, but we have yet to see what Greenland's goals are," Hedegaard told parliament during debate last week over the role of Denmark's two self-governing territories in climate negotiations.
Greenland says setting reduction goals would prevent it from developing its petroleum and mining industries. However, Greenland has yet to identify any specific climate initiatives.
"Greenland can help move negotiations forward it if presents its climate goals," Hedegaard said.
Hedegaard and Greenland's prime minister Kuupik Kleist have met on several occasions to discuss whether Greenland would support Danish efforts to negotiate a climate deal during the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen this December, says Sermitsiaq.
Hedegaard said a special arrangement for overseas countries and territories (OCT) can accommodate a possible solution to Greenland's dilemma.
"We are in dialogue with France, Britain and the Netherlands, all of which have similar problems," Hedegaard said.
She also said it is hard to predict now whether an agreement will cover EU countries as a bloc or whether self-governing territories can set individual goals.
Greenland needs to say what it will do
Greenland needs to set goals, says Denmark's climate minister.
Published: 10.11.2009 12:33
Climate change
17.12.2010 13:31
Siku's pause has extended as considered whether to continue this daily circumpolar news round-up In the meantime, we encourage you to consult our archived material, much of which is not accessible elsewhere on the internet.
Read more 17.12.2010 04:59
"We recognize that the Mackenzie Gas Project would have much larger and more far-reaching effects than previous developments in the North"
16.12.2010 12:16
The park lies in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, an area known for its rich bird cliffs and large populations of walrus and polar bears.
Read more 16.12.2010 11:56
Unlike Axel Heiberg's fossil forest, this one lies with the national park on Ellesmere.
Read more 15.12.2010 11:33
“If [the federal government] is serious about sovereignty and Canada’s North, we really need viable communities to be living in"
Read more 15.12.2010 11:25
"I am delighted that the negotiations ended with progress at key points such as adaptation to climate change, shaping and formal approval of a Green Fund, and transferring knowledge and technology"
Read more 15.12.2010 11:15
A single household will dispose of 60-65 kilos of still edible food per year, a new study found.
15.12.2010 11:10
Alaska filed a lawsuit Dec. 14 in an effort to stop the National Marine Fisheries Service's plan to protect endangered sea lions.
15.12.2010 10:55
The work of Inuk artist and writer Alootook Ipellie continues to be appreciated— mainly in Europe.
Read more 14.12.2010 12:43
The Yellowknife woman was caught swallowing crack that she had been selling while pregnant.
Read more