Greenlanders Experience the Visible Effects of a Changing Climate

The population of Greenland is trying to deal with the effects of a warming planet. A changing climate has many benefits in the eyes of some Greenlanders. For instance, many new fisheries are open now that ocean temperatures are rising. Less ice means safer seas and also allows boats to fish closer to their own shores. In addition, changes in ocean temperature have expanded the ranges of many fish north to the waters around Greenland. Many fishermen are eagerly anticipating huge hauls of cod, which returned to Greenland's waters in 2006. Additionally, halibut, a stock traditionally found in the area, are increasing in size and, therefore, commercial value.
The warming has also made the climate in parts of Greenland
similar to that of Northern Europe. Farming on the island, which was previously limited, is now increasing due to a longer growing season and opening of new land to cultivation. Potato and radish crops had bumper years even as far north as Nuuk, only 185 miles from the Arctic Circle. The 2007 growing season marks the first time that Greenlanders have been able to grow broccoli. Carrots and cauliflower are also available from local farms, although all three crops still can't be produced in large enough quantities to feed the population without help from sources in Denmark. A growing number of sheep and cows have appeared, also taking advantage of a longer summer season.
Greenland is experiencing increasing attention for its recently accessible mineral resources, such as gold, oil, diamonds, and gas. There is so much interest in Greenland's mineral resources from abroad,
it is possible that Greenland might be able to have a sustainable economy leading to full sovereignty in the near future.
While warmer temperatures have allowed for increased opportunities in fishing and agriculture, there are negative impacts as well. For those who depend on the ice for transportation and platforms for subsistence hunting and fishing, warmer weather is not always welcome. Longer summers mean that there is a shorter amount of time when sea ice is stable enough to allow passage by sled dog or snowmobile. Many communities in Greenland, especially the Inuit communities of the North, have no roads connecting them to the rest of the island. They are dependent upon being able to travel over sea ice. Longer melt seasons and warmer temperatures make the ice precarious for most travelers. A bigger fear is that increased access for boats allowed by melting sea ice will overload fisheries that are not able to handle the stress of heavier harvesting