Joint Declaration on Cooperation on the Environment in Greenland
Joint Declaration
by
The Government of the United States of America
and
The Government of the Kingdom of Denmark,
including the Home Rule Government of Greenland,
on
Cooperation on the Environment in Greenland
Meeting in Igaliku on August 6 2004, Colin L. Powell, Secretary of State of the United States of America, Per Stig Møller, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark and Josef Motzfeldt, Deputy Premier of the Greenland Home Rule Government
declared:
1. The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland (“the partners”), recognize the importance of protecting and improving the environment in Greenland. Acknowledging the vulnerability of the arctic environment, the partners undertake to cooperate with regard to:
- prevention and combating of pollution dangerous to human health,
- prevention and combating of other pollution of air, water, ice, and earth,
- protection of nature, its wild animals, plants, and their habitats,
- protection of the landscape and areas of historical and scientific value.
2. The partners will address environmental issues cooperatively through appropriate channels. The partners further intend to establish an Environmental Subcommittee of the Permanent Committee established pursuant to the 1991 Memorandum of Understanding. This Subcommittee will meet regularly to identify and address environmental issues and recommend relevant countermeasures to risks that may be posed by environmental contamination affecting the Thule Defense Area and the areas adjacent to the Defense Area. The common goals are to protect the environment and to prevent detrimental effects from any activities to the health and safety of residents of Greenland, as well as of the military and civilian personnel associated with the U.S. armed forces in Greenland.
3. The partners recognize that U.S. armed forces in the Thule Defense Area respect Greenland Home Rule environmental standards. This is demonstrated in the Final Governing Standards applying at the Thule Defense Area, which the U.S. Government updates periodically to reflect the more protective of the U.S. or Greenlandic environmental standards. To assist in the process of updating the Final Governing Standards, the partners will exchange information and consult as appropriate regarding these standards.
4. Representatives of the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, including the Home Rule Government of Greenland, will have access, consistent with the military mission, security and relevant safety considerations, to the Thule Defense Area to acquaint themselves with environmental conditions there. This access will be facilitated through the Thule base commander. With due regard for security classifications and consistent with their respective applicable laws and regulations, the partners will cooperate fully to exchange relevant and available information pertaining to environmental matters.
5. In light of the principles underlying the environmental
cooperation established herein, the partners acknowledge that
environmental considerations will be a natural element of consultations
related to any realignment of the Defense Area.
Issued this day, August 6 2004, in Igaliku
For the Government of the United States of America
Colin L. Powell
For the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark,
including the Home Rule Government of Greenland
Per Stig Møller
For the Government of Denmark
Josef Motzfeldt
For the Home Rule Government
of Greenland