The Ministry of Health in Greenland has signed an agreement with the European Environment Agency (EEA). The two organisations committed to exchange personnel, and share knowledge, data and other expertise on environment-related health issues.

The aim is to improve the sharing of data and information. Both parties hope that this will contribute to the quality and timeliness of assessments of environmental impacts on human health, both for the European region as a whole and the Arctic region in particular.

In the agreement, signatories note that “Europe leaves a footprint in the Greenlandic and Arctic environment with known, as well as suspected, effects on human health”. Pollutants can be transported across the Atlantic by ocean currents and atmospheric deposition, and may accumulate in certain foods in Greenland.

Another important environmental issue in Greenland is waste management, because waste is often not separated or stored properly so there is a risk it will leach into the surrounding environment. This problem is exacerbated by the long distances between settlements and waste treatment plants. The EEA is working with the Greenlandic government to improve the situation.

In the agreement between the EEA and the Health Ministry, initial priorities for collaboration include establishing a liaison agreement on exchange of personnel. In addition, both parties hope to exchange data, knowledge and information on environment-related health issues. There is particular interest in the effects of chemicals and hazardous substances, the human consequences of waste management, and health impacts of climate change.

Several areas of EEA work are of immediate relevance for the Arctic, such as health impacts of climate change, reducing burdens and health impacts of hazardous chemicals in children, and reducing health inequalities.

The agreement also includes a commitment to share knowledge to improve existing environmental assessments.