Svalbard's dilemma - 4th January 2023

The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is trying to find a way to profit from its pristine Arctic wilderness without ruining it. Home to polar bears, the midnight sun and the northern lights, and situated 1,300 kilometres from the North Pole, the archipelago’s accessible by commercial flights. But with the Arctic warming three times faster than the rest of the planet, Svalbard’s at the forefront of climate change.

Although tourism in the area tries to be as sustainable as possible, travel itself is the biggest issue. Ronny Brunvoll is the director of Visit Svalbard.

Ronny Brunvoll: "The really big problem is, is the transport to and from Svalbard. Both in tourism but also us as locals that live here. We have a climate footprint per capita in Longyearbyen that is insane."

In an effort to be more sustainable, heavy polluting cruise ships were prohibited from entering Svalbard's waters in 2022. Other cruise liners, like Norway's Hurtigruten, have taken steps to lessen their impact. Director Tore Hoem talks about the technology they're using.

Tore Hoem: "Well, we try to, to be as, as sustainable as technology allows us and this is for us a big step forward in that direction. And we hope to sort of make a difference and help technology go forward."

Svalbard's early coal mining industry resulted in a huge population growth. Although most mines have been shut down, the archipelago's electricity supplies still rely on coal. As tourism's currently the primary source of income, welcoming 140,000 tourists annually, conserving the islands' natural beauty is of major concern. Local newspaper editor Børre Haugli outlines the dilemma.

Børre Haugli: "The tourist industry themself in Svalbard want to have sustainable industry and they develop themself into more sustainable activities. But I think we are on the limit of, of how many tourists we can cope with."