Ávarp umhverfisráðherra - 30th Nordic Geological Winter Meeting

Svandís Svavarsdóttir umhverfisráðherra flutti eftirfarandi ávarp á 30. vetrarfundi norrænna jarðfræðinga þann 10. janúar 2012.

Ágætu norrænu vinir - kære nordiske venner,

I hope it is all right if I welcome you in Icelandic and Scandinavian, even if I continue my address in English, which is the official language of the conference. I have been told that my address should be relatively brief. I have also been told that geologists have a different feeling for time than most people - and that you consider the end of the last ice age to be a recent event. That is a very different mindset from politicians, especially ministers, who feel that four years is like an eon. I will therefore be relaxed and not be looking at my watch, while I promise that I will end before the Holocene epoch is officially declared over.

Actually, some scientists have suggested that we might consider ourselves to be in a new geological epoch, that should be called the Anthropocene. This new epoch would be named after humans, because we are now having a greater effect on the Earth‘s systems than many natural forces. Our agriculture and mining and cities are changing the surface of the planet. We may be triggering the greatest mass extinction of organisms for millions of years. We are certainly changing the composition of the atmosphere at an alarming rate and scale.

The effect of this is not least felt in our part of the world, the High North. A recent report by the Arctic Council makes it clear that snow and ice is retreating in the north even faster than was predicted only a few years ago. Permafrost is thawing – and releasing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Arctic sea ice is melting faster than almost all models projected. Glaciers are retreating. We have recently mapped the surface of the largest glaciers in Iceland using laser technology from airplane. We hope that this will help us to map accurately their likely retreat in the future. The Icelandic government recently established Europe‘s largest national park around our biggest glacier, Vatnajökull. We think the park and the glacier can become a symbol of climate change, and a vast open-air school room on its visible effects.

Of course, Icelandic glaciers are not only melting because of a warmer atmosphere. Some are melting from below - from Earth‘s inner heat and volcanic eruptions. The recent eruption of Eyjafjallajökull made headlines around the world for grounding some 100 thousand flights and causing havoc in global air traffic. There is now a tremendous interest in Icelandic volcanoes, not least in Europe, from a research point of view. If we can predict their behaviour and map ash clouds more accurately, we might be able to limit the disruption caused by future eruptions. For us Icelanders the concern is not only about air traffic, as many volcanoes pose a threat to habitation, roads and agriculture.

The Nordic countries have actively helped Iceland to build up a knowledge base and expertise on volcanism and geology. The Nordic Volcano Centre was established by the Nordic Council of Ministers almost 40 years ago. It has offered Nordic scientists a chance to do field work in a land of active volcanism, and it has contributed valuable research of Iceland‘s volcanoes and their nature. Iceland has also benefitted from Nordic contributions to earthquake monitoring, and in other fields. Nordic cooperation in geological research has a long tradition and a strong foundation, and I am certain that it will only grow stronger.

It is interesting to see the programme of this 30th Nordic Geological Winter Meeting. Many of the themes are directly linked to some of the concerns I have mentioned above, like climate change, geological hazards and natural resources. Policy making needs good science as a basis for decisions. Can we continue to rely on fossil fuels? Or should we look to renewable energy, and how can we then make sure that it we can get maximum benefits and minimize negative effects on nature? We look to you for facts to guide political decisions. Even seemingly very academic studies, on subjects such as ice ages and ancient climate fluctuations, have relevance for the understanding of the future of Earth‘s climate.

Facts, of course, need to be accurate and uncontaminated by the views and interests of individual scientists. We need to hear the truth, whether it is comforting or inconvenient. Some doubt that we can trust the guidance by science, such as the findings of the IPCC on climate change.

There has been a heavy propaganda campaign by so-called climate skeptics, that climate science is biased. While their arguments are thin, their constant drumming has found a sympathetic, while dwindling, audience. Many seem to believe that scientists can not voice views on issues close to their field, without sacrificing their integrity. This is simply wrong. Scientists must seek the truth, and nothing but the truth, but they should not be silent or silenced from the constant policy debate that is the strength of our democratic society.

This is well illustrated in the case of Sigurður Þórarinsson, one of the most respected and beloved Icelandic scientist of the 20th Century. He would have been 100 years old last Sunday, and I am glad to see that you have devoted one session to his memory and his scientific legacy. Nobody could doubt the scientific integrity of Sigurður, who was one of the most respected volcanologist of his time and a pioneer in the field of tephrachronology. But Sigurður was also one of the most influential nature conservationist of the 20th Century in Iceland. He helped instigate and write the first comprehensive nature conservation law in Iceland.

He was tireless in pointing out the uniqueness of Iceland‘s nature, and how badly some natural treasures were treated. He was certainly not opposed to the utilization of natural resources, but pointed out that nature also had intrinsic value. If the value of hydro energy could be measured in kilowatt-hours, he said, the value of undisturbed nature could be measured in hours of enjoyment.

And speaking of enjoyment. Sigurður had a cool head, but no heart of stone. He got his doctorate from the University of Stockholm, where he not only got a first-class education, but also developed a fondness for Bellman, the beloved 18th Century Swedish poet. He translated many of Bellman‘s songs into Icelandic, and composed many of his own, some of which have become classics, that are sung at every self-respecting party of musical individuals. The reason for the popularity of both Bellman‘s and Sigurður‘s songtexts is that they portray good humour and a love of life.

Our days and work may seem small in the perspective of geological eons, but this should not prevent us from enjoying life. I hope that you have a productive meeting and stimulating discussions, but I also hope that you enjoy your stay here in the middle of this unusally snowy winter here.

Thank you,