– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Greenland, the largest island on earth, lies between the Arctic and

the Atlantic Ocean.

Temperatures here have risen significantly in recent years,

with extreme cold becoming more rare.

While the higher temperatures have serious consequences for Greenland's

environment — about 80% of which is covered by ice — there are now

more opportunities for the tourism industry.

Waterways have less ice, while more airlines now fly to the country.

How can Greenland manage the rise in visitors

while preserving its natural resources?

Let's take a closer look.

Mie Winding is a climate researcher in the capital Nuuk.

She's worried about the effects of climate change.

The sea ice is getting thinner,

but also the multi-layer sea ice

is disappearing much faster.

We can also see extreme events, so we can see sea ice break up in months

where we normally don't see sea ice breaking up.

And we can see that the oceans are getting warmer

and the glaciers are melting.

So climate change is impacting many different levels.

One of the most striking example is the Ilulissat Icefjord,

which is losing mass due to rising temperatures.

It's Greenland's most iconic natural wonder

and a must-see for anyone visiting the country.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the fjord is now at the

forefront of environmental change.

We join a local captain who has spent his life navigating these waters

on boat tours through the icebergs.

He has seen firsthand the dramatic and rapid effects of climate change.

I've been sailing since I was a small kid with my father.

When I was a little kid,

those huge icebergs were bigger.

He's seen a sharp rise in tourists, especially winter cruise ships.

Now there is more tourism than five years ago.

Ilulissat Icefjord Centre is located at the edge of the fjord.

There, visitors can learn about the culture of the region and the impacts

of climate change.

We sat down with director Karl Sandgreen to learn more.

The Greenland nature is very delicate to climate change.

If you want to see the climate change, you have to go to Greenland.

Because you can feel the change even on the ground.

We have some huge cracks in the coast

because the permafrost is melting very fast

and the houses are sinking as well.

We really have to think about

if we want to have too many tourists

are coming from the rest of the world.

We don't want to be overcrowded

because emission of carbon is very high

from the planes and the ships, as well.

We want to have the tourists, but we need a balance for it.

Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is home to fewer than 20,000 people.

But already the tourism boom has brought about many changes.

This summer, tour operators expect more than 70 cruise ships to dock,

some carrying up to 5,000 passengers,

who will flood the city's streets.

New tour companies have started up in recent years to meet the need,

including Meaningful Travels.

Tour guide Robert Cullen believes rising temperatures are a major fact

behind Greenland's increase in tourism.

Maybe in the past year or two that I've been working in the tourism sector,

there has been an increase

in the demand for people to come and see Greenland

in all cities, not just Nuuk.

A lot more curiosity around Greenland

And they want to find out exactly what Greenland is like.

I suppose it brings both challenges and opportunities.

I suppose one of the challenges might be for the locals.

With the increased volume of people,

it'll be a different scene for them

and a culture shock in a sense,

because they're used to things a certain way.

The challenge is getting used to it, I suppose,

because it seems like this is not just something that's happening now.

It's here to stay.

So I think people are shocked here at how fast things are happening.

And one of the opportunities is supposed

to be an increased work output for people,

for locals, local businesses and tour operators and tour providers.

They can all collaborate and work together.

It's positive overall.

It will take some time in getting used to the changes.

The country's national tourism board, Visit Greenland, is tasked with

making Greenland into a sustainable travel destination.

Anette Grønkjær, chair of the board of Visit Greenland and manager of

Hotel Sisimiut, supports a recent law aimed at sustainably

managing tourism growth.

It requires that at least two thirds of a tourism company's ownership

must be made-up of Greenland residents who are tax liable.

For Grønkjær, the law is a vital step toward

protecting Greenland's environment,

businesses and communities.

Though this new law is to make sure

that tourism grows in Greenland

And not outside Greenland.

And that the benefits from tourism

are not taken out of Greenland.

But that it benefits Greenland and the country.

It also gives a sense of feeling from people visiting Greenland

that they know, "Okay, I'm working with a tourism provider.

I know that this is a Greenlandic business

that contributes to the community.

That when I buy tours or experiences through this company,

I know that it benefits the schools, the hospitals,

the elderly people's homes, even the student housing."

And all of these things are a part of contributing to the community

and the society that Greenland is.

Grønkjær also cites climate change is key to the tourism sector's evolution.

Years ago, when climate change was a very new topic,

it was more just the awareness of Greenland:

"Oh, this is the beating heart of climate change.

We have to go and see it."

Now it's more about: How do we work with climate change?

I see it mostly as challenges, because what we see that

climate change is, is that it's not just warmer weather.

It's unstable weather.

It's more challenging to grow business

in an unpredictable environment.

And that's also with the weather.

Now we work with the climate change.

How do we work with it?

Not only as an awareness thing that we can see happening,

but how do we prepare ourselves for this,

and how do we prevent the culture to disappear?

How do we prevent the way of life?

And how do we adapt, in a way?

The increase in tourism hasn't taken the tourism industry entirely by surprise.

I would say that we have been preparing for this for a long time.

The new International Airport in Nuuk, opened at the end of 2024,

was a game changer.

Now, more airlines service the airport —

and flights from abroad no longer have to make a stop inland.

Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO of Air Greenland,

describes this as a historic turning point

for the country's tourism industry.

Tourism in Greenland is now at a new point.

We are seeing mass interest in Greenland

and the expansion of Nuuk Airport

and the upcoming expansion

of Ilulissat Airport will make Greenland

more accessible to tourists.

It will be easier to come to Nuuk and Ilulissat and the other destinations.

And it will be faster and that in itself will will increase the demand.

While he acknowledges the risks posed by climate change,

Sørensen also sees opportunities.

Climate change brings some opportunities, but also some fears.

The fear is obviously mass tourism,

which will have both a social and

an environmental impact on our fragile society and ecosystem.

But the opportunities in a country like Greenland are that we can actually

deliver a high quality product for the premium customer,

which means that we can maybe have lower volumes

and less of an impact on the environment.

And that that is the goal for both, the official policies and and also what

we're trying to do as an airline.

Experts say the decisions made now by the tourism industry could define

the country's future.

Which happens here has consequences for the whole global ecosystem.

So if all of the Greenland ice sheet melted tomorrow — it will not —

but if it did, the water levels around the world will rise around 7.2 meters.

The world doesn't know about national boundaries,

that's something humans have made of.

I think it is a matter of adapting to the new circumstances and making sure

that we slow down this pace of climate change.

I think that's the most important,

that we actually act and take responsibility

with the way we are living, and the consequence of this.

Greenlanders have always known the beauty and power of their land.

Now they hope the world will embrace it with respect to support

a tourism industry that conserves the environment.

We are super aware of what we have.

I can see the treasure that Greenland is.

We need to be very careful,

take very good care of nature.

And it's better to go slowly.

And thinking about what we're doing,

because it's here for the next generations as well.

And so that's what tourism is for in Greenland.

It's for the people of Greenland.

Greenland is opening up to the world.

And as tourism grows, so does

the responsibility to protect nature

and support those who call the country home.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
climate /ˈklaɪmət/ B1	noun - the typical weather conditions of a place or region
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to become different or to make something different noun - the act or result of becoming different
greenland /ˈɡriːnlənd/ C1	noun - an autonomous territory of Denmark, the world's largest island
tourism /ˈtʊərɪzəm/ B2	noun - the business of providing services for people on vacation
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water
temperature /ˈtɛmpərətʃə/ B1	noun - the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance
visitor /ˈvɪzɪtər/ A2	noun - a person who visits a place or person
environment /ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt/ B1	noun - the natural world or surroundings in which people, animals, or plants live
opportunity /ˌɒpərˈtjuːnəti/ B1	noun - a favorable time or set of circumstances for doing something
challenge /ˈtʃælɪndʒ/ B1	noun - a difficult task or situation verb - to invite someone to compete in a contest
impact /ˈɪmpækt/ B2	noun - a strong effect or influence verb - to have a strong and often negative effect on something or someone
consequence /ˈkɒnsɪkwəns/ B2	noun - a result of an action or situation, often one that is bad
balance /ˈbæləns/ B1	noun - a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts verb - to make things equal or bring them into the correct proportions
rise /raɪz/ A2	verb - to move upwards or to an upright position noun - an increase in amount, number, or number
melt /mɛlt/ B1	verb - to become liquefied by heat
adapt /əˈdæpt/ B2	verb - to adjust to new conditions or surroundings
mass /mæs/ B2	noun - a large amount or quantity adjective - having considerable size or amount
effect /ɪˈfɛkt/ B1	noun - a change that is the result of an action or other cause
tourist /ˈtʊərɪst/ A2	noun - a person who is traveling or visiting a place for pleasure
resource /rɪˈzɔːrs/ B1	noun - a supply of something that can be used by a person or organization for profit or help