Iceland: A Study in Sustainable Initiatives

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• Be sure the volume is on or turned up to hear
  sound.

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Iceland A Study of Sustainable Initiatives
Marylhurst University SUS 500 Principles of
Sustainability
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A collaboration of the SUS 500 B1 Green Team

• Adrian Olson
• Cornell University
• Bachelors of Science in Applied Economics and
  Business Management
• Ken Schefter
• Kansas State University
• Bachelors of Science in Business Management
• Brandi Shepard
• The Catholic University of America
• Bachelors of Science in Architecture
  Construction Management concentration
• Craig Thomas
• Sheldon Jackson College
• Bachelors of Science in Aquatic Resources
• Lois Trongard
• University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
• Bachelors of Business Administration in
  Accounting

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Sustainability in Iceland

• Scope of the Presentation
• Focus on Icelands limited resources as it
  relates to their high success in sustainability,
  marking them one of the sustainability leaders in
  the world.
• Detail Icelands sustainable initiatives in each
  of the respective sectors including
• Mindset of the Icelandic people, permeating how
  they live
• Role of government in achieving the voice of its
  people
• Economic practices to ensure resource management
• Natural resources used for energy and why they
  are sustainable
• Conservation practices in the environment and
  tourism

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Understanding the People

• The people of Iceland have always carried a rich,
  long lasting respect for the environment and own
  self well-being.
• Symbolism in language and geography, centered on
  the beauty of the landscape

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Understanding the People

• The people of Iceland have strong sense of
  national identity.
• Working class is identified with national
  political movements and parties.
• Icelanders are self-confident, self-reliant,
  independent thinkers, however they are also
  conservationists.

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Understanding the People

• Indicators of historical and current events
  indicate the overall acceptance of sustainability
  and conservation.
• This has been accomplished through social welfare
  and change programs
• Gender equality
• Ability to organize and assemble freely

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Voice of the Government

• Icelands independence
• 930 AD Founding of the Althing (worlds oldest
  democratic parliament).
• 1262-1944 under control of Denmark or Norway.
• June 16, 1944 full independence for Iceland.
• Political Parties
• Progressive Party 1916.
• Independence Party, 1929.
• Social Democratic Alliance, 1999.
• Left-Green Party, 1999.

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Voice of the Government

• Recent Political Trends showing the rise of the
  Left-Green Party

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Economic Resources

• Mainstays of the economy are Icelands renewable
  natural resources
• Energy Hydro and Geothermal
• Marine Life Rich Fishing Grounds
• Agriculture Pastureland/Green House Crops
• Other Industry Resources
• Heavy Industry
• Service - Information Technology

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Economic Resources
hydro and geothermal energy

• Per capita, energy consumption in Iceland is one
  of the highest in the world.
• These are sustainable, environmentally friendly,
  green resources, without the atmospheric
  emissions of fossil fuel. The energy
  infrastructure is state-of-the-art, using the
  latest technology, with great reliability and
  efficiency, and is ranked 1 in the world
  according to the IMD International Institute for
  Management Development.

Source iceland.org (2010)
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Economic Resources
hydro and geothermal energy

• Geothermal Energy
• 90 of Icelandic homes are heated with geothermal
  energy
• Provides 20 of electric needed to support the
  country
• Only 20 of all geothermal power available is
  harnessed.
• Hydropower Energy
• 80 of the electricity generated is by using
  hydropower and only 20-25 of all hydropower
  available is harnessed.

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This YouTube video presents Icelands clean
energy approach by harnessing the fire within
the earth. CNNs Charles Hodson discusses
geothermal energy with Oiafar Grimsson, Icelands
current president.
If you are unable to view the video, click here.
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Economic Resources
marine life

• Marine Products Fish and fish products
  constitute half of all Icelands exports.
• 7 of it is gross domestic product
• Employs 4.1 of the workforce
• Primary types of fish exported are cod, haddock,
  saithe, redfish, herring and capelin
• The fish harvested represents 1.4 million tons
  worth 128 billion dollars

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Economic Resources
agriculture

• Agriculture
• Self sufficient in the production of meat, dairy
  products, eggs and certain vegetables.
• Animals
• Farms are highly mechanized and use the latest
  farming technology.
• Main animals raised are cattle, sheep, horses,
  pigs and poultry.
• Greenhouse Crops
• Growth of crops using greenhouse production
  methods.
• Predominate crops are tomatoes, cucumbers, green
  peppers, roses, gerberas, lilies and potted
  plants.

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Economic Resources
other industry

• Heavy Industry
• Renewable hydro and geothermal energy
• Aluminum
• Alloy products
• Machinery and equipment for the fishing industry
• Service
• Software Solutions
• Service Information Technology

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Natural Resource Conservation

• Soil Conservation
• Iceland was over half covered in vegetation when
  it was first settled 1100 years ago.
• Icelandic Soil Conservation Service has been
  battling erosion since 1907.
• The aim of land reclamation is to conserve
  vegetation and soil, cultivate plants in barren
  areas, and fortify existing flora.
• The fight to reverse erosion will remain a top
  environmental priority for decades.

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Natural Resource Conservation

• Wetland Conservation
• Almost half of the wetland areas settled have
  been lost
• Drainage of lowland wetlands has virtually ceased
  since 1993.
• Attempts to reclaim wetland areas have been
  moderately successful.
• Wetland restoration is considered as a viable
  option for carbon sequestration.

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Natural Resource Conservation

• Wilderness Protection
• Iceland is 38 wilderness.
• Did not start protecting wilderness areas until
  1930.
• Currently, 90 areas are protected.
• A nature conservation plan will increase these
  numbers in the near future by close to 20.

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Natural Resource Conservation

• Marine Life
• Around 300 indigenous species of fish in the
  ocean
• Twenty species from the fishing industries catch,
  plus shrimp and lobster.
• Freshwater fisheries overseen by the government,
  but delegated to local fishing associations.
• Some fish species populations were declining in
  the late 1990s.
• The government and Marine Research Institute
  implemented quotas and total allowable catches.

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EcoTourism

• Iceland has one of the most diverse portfolios of
  nature-related activities in the world.

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This YouTube video highlights Icelands unique
geology that provides renewable energy to the
country. It also discusses Icelands tourism
industry, and how it has impacted the
environment.
If you are unable to view the video, click here.
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Sustainability Paradigms

• Future of transportation and fossil fuels
• Iceland has no reserves of fossil fuels
• Bragi Arnason first proposed using hydrogen for
  fueling vehicles in 1970.
• 1999 consortium announced plan to make this
  vision come true by 2050.
• First commercial hydrogen fueling station opened
  in 2003 to fuel a fleet of hydrogen-powered
  buses.
• Next steps are testing and converting cars, and
  finally the fishing fleet.

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Sustainability Paradigms

• Environmental challenges
• Managing the large numbers of visitors to the
  most popular attractions
• Especially the national parks and protected areas
  that are very sensitive to human traffic.
• Whaling
• Could cause serious harm to whale watching tours
  and reputation as a sustainable society
• Nature vs. Business
• Balancing unspoiled lands against the economic
  growth in the country

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Sustainability Paradigms

• Climate Change Strategy, 2007
• Fulfill obligations of the Kyoto Protocol
• GHG emissions will be reduced 50-75 by 2050
• Attempt to utilize carbon sequestration
• Revegetation
• Afforestation
• Wetland reclamation
• Land-use changes
• Support research and innovations related to
  climate change renewable energy
• Prepare to adapt to climate change

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Iceland A Study of Sustainable Initiatives
Marylhurst University SUS 500 Principles of
Sustainability
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References

• Aldred, J. (2008, April 22). Iceland's Energy
  Answer Comes Naturally. Retrieved April 18, 2010,
  from Guardian.co.uk Http//www.guardian.co.uk/env
  ironment/2008/apr/22/renewableenergy.alternativeen
  ergy
• "Althing." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth
  Edition. 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2010 from
  Encyclopedia.com Http//www.encyclopedia.com/doc/
  1E1-Althing.html
• Benassi, A. (2006). Welfare for the Future -
  Iceland's National Strategy for Sustainable
  Development. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from
  Ministry for the Environment - Publications
  Http//eng.umhverfisraduneyti.is/publications
• Bindloss, J. Harding. P. (2004). Lonely Planet
  Iceland. Oakland, CA Lonely Planet Publications
  Pty Ltd.

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References

• Climate Change Strategy. (2007, February).
  Retrieved April 21, 2010, from Ministry for the
  Environment Http//eng.umhverfisraduneyti.is/publ
  ications
• Culture of Iceland ? History, People, Women,
  Beliefs, Food, Customs, Family, Social, Marriage,
  Men, Life, Population, History and Ethnic
  Relations. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2010 from
  Http//www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iceland.htmlixz
  z0l3YtanXE
• Del Giudice, M. (2008, March). Power Struggle.
  Retrieved April 17, 2010, from National
  Geagraphic Http//ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008
  /03/iceland/del-giudice-text/2
• "Economy and Industry." Iceland.is - Gateway to
  Iceland. 2010. Web. 17 Apr. 2010.
  lthttp//www.iceland.is/economy-and-industry/gt.

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References

• Geography of Iceland. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4,
  2010, from Iceland.is - Gateway to Iceland
  Http//www.iceland.is/country-and-nature/nature/Ge
  ography/
•  Hallsdóttir, Birna S., Kristín Harðardóttir, Jón
  Guðmundsson, and Arnór Snorrason. National
  Inventory Report Environment Agency of Iceland.
  Rep. no. UST-200907. Reykjavík Ministry for the
  Environment, 2009. Print.
• Icelandic Agricultural Information Service.
  (1997). Icelandic Agriculture. Retrieved on April
  17, 2010, from Http//landbunadur.is/landbunadur/w
  gbi.nsf/key2/icelandic_agriculture
• Lacy, Terry G. Ring of Seasons Iceland, Its
  Culture and History. Ann Arbor University of
  Michigan, 1998. Print.

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References

• Leisure Activities in Iceland. (n.d.). Retrieved
  April 4, 2010, from Iceland.is - Gateway to
  Iceland Http//www.iceland.is/travel-and-leisure/
  LeisureActivities/
•  Life in the Sea. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4,
  2010, from Iceland.is - Gateway to Iceland
  Http//www.iceland.is/country-and-nature/nature/An
  imalLife//nr/39
•  Linssen, Stefan, and Christopher Sindik. "2020
  Global Sustainability Centers." Ethisphereâ
  Institute. 7 Sept. 2008. Web. 9 Apr. 2010.
  lthttp//ethisphere.com/2020-global-sustainability-
  centers/gt.
• Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment
  Principles, Connections, and Solutions. Ed. Scott
  Spoolman. Belmont, CA Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2007.
  Print.
•  National Parks. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2010,
  from visiticeland http//www.icetourist.is/Seedo/
  NationalParks/

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References

• "People and Society." Iceland.is - Gateway to
  Iceland. 2010. Web. 4 Apr. 2010.
  lthttp//www.iceland.is/people-and-society/gt.
•  The Environment in Iceland. (n.d.). Retrieved
  April 3, 2010, from Iceland.is - GAteway to
  Iceland http//www.iceland.is/country-and-nature
  /nature/Environment/
•  Trade Council Of Iceland, N.D., Political
  Parties. Retrieved April 20, 2010 from
  Http//www.iceland.is/government-and-politics/Poli
  ticalParties/
•  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
  Change. (2009, October 21). National greenhouse
  gas inventory data for the period 1990-2007.
  Retrieved April 26, 2010, from United Nations
  Framework Convention on Climate Change
  http//unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/sbi/eng/12.pd
  f

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References

• YouTube - CNN Iceland's Unique Clean Energy
  Solution 2008.06.30. YouTube - Broadcast
  Yourself. NewsRevue, 30 June 2008. Web. 22 Apr.
  2010. lthttp//www.youtube.com/watch?veXa6LU667EIgt
  
• YouTube - Geothermal Energy in Iceland. YouTube -
  Broadcast Yourself. Schreinervideo, 4 Feb. 2008.
  Web. 22 Apr. 2010. lthttp//www.youtube.com/watch?v
  XRAQrDduaU0gt.
• Veal, L. (2010, April 16). Whaling Profitable but
  Bad for Iceland's Image. Retrieved April 17,
  2010, from Inter-Press Service
  http//ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews51067
•  Vegetation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2010,
  from Icland.is - Gateway to Iceland
  http//www.iceland.is/country-and
  nature/nature/Vegetation/
•  

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References

•  Why Iceland. (2008, May 9). Retrieved April 26,
  2010, from 3rd Informal Dialogue on LULUCF
  http//landbunadur.is/landbunadur/wgrala.nsf/key2/
  hhjn7etf6x.html
•  Wikipedia, 2009. Elections in Iceland. Retrieved
  April 21, 2010 from Http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E
  lections_in_Iceland

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