Weather, Climate, and Society in

Greenland Madelaine Bergier, Claire Grady, Jaclyn Johnson

2500 BC 982 1600 1721 1940 1941 1953 1979 1982 1999 2008 Today

Timeline of Greenland’s History

First humans arrive, and die out shortly thereafter.

Erik the Red re-discovers Greenland and names it as such to make it more attractive to the Icelandic people.

For unknown reasons, all Norse settlements in Greenland vanish. Only Inuit settlements remain.

A new Danish settlement is established near present-day Nuuk, marking the beginning of Greenland’s colonial era.

Greenland is at the center of a “weather war” during WWII, with both powers fighting for access to Greenland as a weather station.

The United States assume protective custody of Greenland and establish several military bases.

Danish authorities expel Inuit hunters from their ancestral lands in northern Greenland.

Greenland attains home rule, although Denmark retains much of its control.

The people of Greenland vote to leave the European Union. Their withdrawal is completed in 1985.

The Danish High Court rules that the Inuit were illegally exiled in 1953, but denies them the right to return to their native lands.

Greenlanders vote in referendum for more autonomy and greater control over energy resources.

Greenland represents a mixture of Inuit traditions and more modern Danish customs. The leftist Inuit Ataqatugiit Party rules.

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Climate Trends in Nuuk, Greenland

Climate and Climate Change •  The average annual temperature in Greenland

ranges from 16˚F to 45˚F. •  Greenland is the world’s largest island, consisting

of 80% ice. It contains 10% of the world’s total supply of fresh water.

•  Arctic temperatures are rising twice as fast as elsewhere in the world. Average temperatures in this area have risen 2.7˚F over the past 30 years and may soon rise by up to another 14˚F.

•  The ice sheet is melting due to such rapid warming and due to moulins. In 2008, glaciers around Greenland lost an area more than two times the size of Manhattan Island.

•  If Greenland was to entirely melt, worldwide sea levels would rise by approximately 40 feet.

•  What happens in Greenland during the next ten years will answer key questions about how much the rest of the earth will warm during the next 100 years.

Culture •  Greenland has 55,000 total inhabitants, 20% of which were

born elsewhere and 14,000 of which live in Nuuk, Greenland’s largest city.

•  88% Inuit, 12% European (mostly Danish) •  Fishing and hunting are the most common livelihoods

among Greenlandic people, especially the Inuit.

Positive Effects of Recent Climate Change •  Economic improvement: there are more possibilities for

development in Greenland. •  The longer grass-growing season allows more crops to

thrive, including potatoes and broccoli, leading to lesser dependence on expensive imported crops.

•  Melting ice caps reveal diamond, gold, and oil, bringing prospectors and potential riches to the nation.

•  The comfort of warmer weather is enjoyed by the people of Greenland, improving their quality of life.

•  New life forms and an increase of biodiversity have

Threats to the Native Culture •  Several aspects of Inuit culture are seriously threatened,

largely because the sea ice used for hunting is rapidly melting.

•  The hunting season has been cut in half, providing only enough game for 500 Inuits to survive by hunting.

•  Hunting is an essential aspect of Greenland Inuit culture. Even the home rule government recognizes its importance—they call hunting the “heart and soul of Greenlandic culture.”

•  The Greenlandic people rely on sled dogs for transportation during the hunting

Source: newworldencyclopedia.com

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Current Politics and Climate Change • Contrary to its name, Greenland does not have plans to “go green.” • They have plans to develop their aluminum, petroleum, and mining industries, which will increase CO2 emissions. Greenland is not completely emancipated from Danish rule and is currently seeking exemption from the United Nation’s COP emission reduction requirements. • The Inuit Ataqatigiit party feels that Denmark will not adequately represent Greenland at the upcoming UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen (December 17-18, 2009) and is currently threatening to join the UN’s G-77 for developing countries at the conference. The G-77 currently includes impoverished countries such as Samoa, Suriname and Sudan. • Greenland’s plans for the future of its country currently contradict the International agenda regarding climate change.

References Bennett, Paul. "Global Warming: Greenland When It's Hot." National Geographic Adventure. National Geographic, 2007. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.

"CIA - The World Factbook -- Greenland." Welcome to the CIA Web Site Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gl.html>.

"CBC News - North - Climate change threatens Greenland's hunting lifestyle." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/04/17/greenland-hunt.html>.

Decker, David, Russel Benson, and Nathan Amador. "Floating ice area loss is 10 times the area of Manhattan Is. (2000-2008)." Byrd Polar Research Center at The Ohio State University. 16 Oct. 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://bprc.osu.edu/MODIS/?cat=1>.

Etter, Lauren. "Feeling the Heat: For Icy Greenland, Global Warming Has a Bright Side; As Temperatures Inch Up, Melting Glaciers Bring New Life to a Frozen Land; But Could Polar Bears Vanish? " Wall Street Journal 18 Jul 2006, Eastern edition: Wall Street Journal, ProQuest. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.

Jerichow, Rie. "Greenland wants to stay outside a climate agreement - COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009." Home - COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009. 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2541>.

Owen, James. "Global Warming Good for Greenland?" National Geographic. 17 Oct. 2007. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.

"Timeline: Greenland." BBC News. British Broadcasting Company, 10 June 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/>

Von Bülow, Michael. "Greenland threatens to join G-77 in Copenhagen - COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009." Home - COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009. 27 Aug. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1979>.

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Source: static.open.salon.com Source: eesi.org