People of ICEBERG: Erik Kielsen from the Advisory Board

Throughout the ICEBERG project, we will introduce the people working on the project. In this personal introduction, Greenland local, consultant and ICEBERG advisor Erik Kielsen introduces himself and shares what inspires him about ICEBERG.

My name is Erik Kielsen, born and raised in Qaqortoq and educated in economics and accounting. I’m the owner of Kielsen’s Coordination and work as a consultant on different topics, including fishing, hunting, and food at Innovation South Greenland. In the ICEBERG project, I serve as a member of the Advisory Board.

My work in the ICEBERG project involves handling the logistics work, which involves planning, programming, and logistics, in collaboration with the project managers. This includes transport, accommodation, food, networking, as well as contact with public authorities and educational institutions. I work in close cooperation with the fishermen, hunters, sheep farmers, reindeer herders, tour operators, and other companies here in southern Greenland.

I also do it because I live here! The concerns addressed in ICEBERG about the development of the environment and surroundings in the Arctic are also my concerns. It is very important for us that we are listened to, because without us the work will be much harder and more expensive for the project itself.

In the autumn of 2023, I was asked by the project leaders to participate in ICEBERG, and I said yes without hesitation. The main reason is that the project is about our environment and surroundings, which fishermen, hunters, sheep farmers, and reindeer herders depend on for their livelihood, people who live off nature and whom I am a consultant for.I also see the researchers and students as the voice to the outside world for the local fishermen and hunters, shepherds, and reindeer herders when they participate in conferences and meetings, and collaborate with other governments outside Greenland. It is important for us to have voices outside Greenland, as there are not very many of us on this large island.

Another thing that is important for my participation in the project is that climate development is very important for all of us, and not least for people who live off nature and who are dependent on nature to survive. That ICEBERG will provide research reports to the EU is of great significance for Greenland. I am always striving for “win-win”, where both locals in South Greenland and the project in itself benefit from the work in the project.

Through my work in ICEBERG, I would like to be able to understand more of the big picture of our Arctic environment and surroundings. I’d also like to understand how nature functions based on the observations that fishermen, hunters, shepherds, and reindeer herders obtain through their work in nature. I would also very much like to gain a more in-depth understanding of the work processes and decision-making of the authorities in the EU. In the future, I would also like to continue collaborating with some of the researchers and students once the project is completed, if we can both gain something from it: win-win!