An Excellent Idea

"The idea - to gather, in one and the same place and as a common platform - all kinds of information about the Arctic, was indeed an excellent and timely one. So many scientific institutions and organizations from several Arctic countries are participating here; so much information and knowledge, so many scientific results about developments are presented here. And at a time when Copenhagen is hosting the COP 15 and is in the focus of the whole world", said the Senior Arctic Officials Chair, Mr. Lars Møller, when he Saturday opened the Arctic Venue.

"Today, only few would ask questions like: "What has the Arctic to do with global warming and climate change?" Many people know that they are intimately linked. Many know that climate change is taking place in the Arctic twice as fast as elsewhere on the globe, and that the ice is disappearing at an alarming speed. Many know that the melting of the ice further contributes by itself to the global warming, especially by the release of greenhouse gasses from the melting permafrost and less reflection of the sun's rays by the ice. Many know that this could have devastating consequences not only for the Arctic region and its inhabitants but for countries and peoples in the rest of the world. Most people realize that we have to do something to arrest this development", said mr. Møller and continued:

"But how has this knowledge come about? How do so many know about developments in the Arctic? Well, because of the research, the gathering of traditional knowledge of the Arctic indigenous peoples, the communication and outreach activities of the institutions, organizations, associations and other bodies and forums that are active in the Arctic, many of whom are represented at the Arctic Venue."

The opening event at the Arctic Venue gathered 200 guest who listened to lectures from some of the Arctic Worlds leading scientists.

The Arctic Venue is an exhibition showing how the Arctic have developed and gathered comprehensive and unique knowledge about climate change in the Arctic as well as subsequent global effects of the ongoing changes in the Arctic. Numerous research institutions and organisations are represented at the Arctic Venue which is organized by the Danish Energy Agency and the Nordic Council of Ministers. The exhibition is opened to public every day until Friday 18^th from 12 to 18.