Grønlandsudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling), Miljøudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
GRU Alm.del Bilag 30, MIU Alm.del Bilag 218
Offentligt
24 March 2015, Ilulissat, Greenland
Joint Statement
The French Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius, the
Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs Martin Lidegaard and the Greenlandic Minister for
Industry, Labour, Trade and Foreign Affairs Vittus Qujaukitsoq met in Ilulissat, Greenland, to
discuss issues of common interest.
The ministers issued the following statement:
With less than a year to COP21 in Paris we face a challenging task to secure an ambitious and
universal climate change agreement within the framework of UNFCCC
in order to c
ontain
global warming within the limit of 2°C, above which the impacts would be difficult to control
and to adapt our societies to impacts already being felt and foster low-carbon development
(Arctic communities are one of the most challenged of all by the effects of climate change). In
this context, we look forward to the submission by all countries, of their national contributions,
in the first quarter of 2015 if possible, and in all cases prior to COP21.
During our visit in Ilulissat we reinforced our commitment to reaching this goal and discussed
possible supportive initiatives i.e. within climate change diplomacy. We committed to keep
working together for more prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies, for the sake of our
citizens and of future generations. Greenland is a hub for extensive climate change research and
contributes significantly to the strengthening of national and international scientific climate
research in areas such as energy, climate change, disaster resilience, natural resources, including
raw materials, and sustainable use of living resources. We are committed to continuing and
further strengthening our scientific cooperation (for example at the conference "Ilulissat
Climate Days" or in the project "Greenland Perspectives").
Greenland and the Arctic must also adapt to the effects of climate change, which are already
happening, and can provide some opportunities for economic development, in particular
considering the recent access to new mineral resources. We are committed to explore how to
further increase European investments in economically viable industry projects in Greenland,
while respecting the environmental integrity.
During our meeting we also discussed the importance of managing living resources in a
sustainable way. We acknowledge that the sustainable exploitation of living resources
contributes to the subsistence of Inuit and other indigenous communities. In continuation, we
acknowledge that traditional fishing and hunting practices are important for the Greenlandic
livelihood.