Greenlandic water and sanitation-a context oriented analysis of system challenges towards local sustainable development

Kåre Hendriksen*, Birgitte Hoffmann

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Today, as Greenland focuses on more economic and cultural autonomy, the continued development of societal infrastructure systems is vital. At the same time, pressure is put on the systems by a lack of financial resources and locally based professional competences as well as new market-based forms of organization. Against this background, the article discusses the challenges facing Greenland's self-rule in relation to further develop the existing water and wastewater systems so that they can contribute to the sustainable development of Greenland. The article reviews the historical development of the water supply and wastewater system. This leads to an analysis of the sectorisation, which in recent decades has reorganized the Greenlandic infrastructures, and of how this process is influencing local sustainable development. The article discusses the socio-economic and human impacts and points to the need for developing the water and sanitation system to support not only hygiene and health, but also local sustainable development.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
    Volume25
    Issue number33
    Pages (from-to)33014–33024
    ISSN0944-1344
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Keywords

    • Greenland
    • Infrastructure systems
    • Modernization
    • Sanitation
    • Sectorisation
    • Settlement patterns
    • Sustainable development
    • Water systems

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