Editorial: Our friends in Norway

The Arctic is a big political issue in Norway. Norwegian lawmakers are close to striking deals with Russia about usage rights in the Barents Sea. They’re also well ahead of the game when it comes to Arctic research.

Tromsø is the home of the Arctic Council’s secretariat, and it is likely it will be named home of the new permanent secretariat.

Norway is pumping oil and gas in the Barents Sea, and that has an effect on life back on land.

Together with risk management organisation DNV, the country is drawing up environmental standards for oil activities in the Barents.

Norway is also engaged in a fisheries dispute off the coast of Ålesund, where there is a known oil and gas field that cannot be tapped without disturbing fishing grounds.

Norway is deeply familiar with the type of development Greenland is about to embark on. During a visit to Norway this past autumn, premier Kuupik Kleist was offered as much help as the country needed.

Norway wants to become an Arctic power, and when it seeks to lend us a hand we shouldn’t be naive about their motives. Norway will pursue its own interests, but those interests aren’t necessarily at odds with Greenland’s own.

When it comes to research and climate it goes without saying that we should work closely with Tromsø.