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Sunday 05.02.2012

Greenland not ready to make huge emission cuts

While other countries are proposing huge emission cuts, Greenland likes its five per cent option.

Greenland intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent from 2007 levels to 2020.

The target will be reached by developing hydro-electric power, increasing efficiency within the fishing industry and renovating existing buildings.

Greenland Premier Kuupik Kleist said even though the country’s offer did not match that of Denmark, Greenland was still supporting an international agreement being reached at the Copenhagen climate conference.

"There should be no doubt that Greenland wants to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The whole world has a responsibility to limit its emissions to limit global warming," Kleist said.

During his weekly press conference, Kleist said that for Greenland to become financially independent it could not commit to reductions for both the mineral and energy-intensive industries.

Greenland’s per capita energy consumption is relatively high due to its Arctic climate and isolation.

In 2007, Greenland produced 679,300 tonnes of CO2 and general greenhouse gas emissions had risen by 4.3 per cent since the start of the 1990s. In comparison, Danish greenhouse gas emissions fell by 5.4 per cent between 1990 and 2007.

John Nordbo, head of the WWF climate programis disappointed with the contribution from Greenland.

"Greenland already had a goal to reduce by 8 per cent between 2008 and 2012 based on 1990 levels. This latest offer will only cut five percent from 2007 levels which is likely much higher than those of 1990. So it looks like they’re trying to get off the hook easy," he said.