National planning

National plan reports and relevant documents since the Municipal Reform 2009

1. Overview of the Self-Government's interests in municipal planning – 2015

  • Identification of the Self-Government's central interests in municipal planning.

2. National Plan Report 2016 – The necessary prioritization

  • Focus on efficient public sector and prioritization in planning.
  • Considerations on the division of tasks between the Self-Government and the municipalities.

3. National Plan Report 2017 – The necessary cooperation

  • Emphasized the importance of collaboration across actors and levels for balanced development.
  • Expanded parameters and resource triangle for residences, including business resources, human resources and societal resources.

4. The SDG 2030 Agenda and Modernization of the Planning Act

  • Integrating the SDG 2030 agenda into the modernization of the Planning Act with a focus on Sustainability and effective land management processes.

National plan reports for Greenland

1. National Plan Report 2009

  • Overall plan for Greenland's physical planning.
  • Guidelines for the development of infrastructure, settlement, natural resources and environmental conditions.
  • Definition of residences:
    • Large cities: Largest settlements with extensive functions and services (e.g. Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat).
    • Medium-sized cities: Medium-sized cities depend on larger cities for functions and facilities.
    • Small community: Smaller settlements with agricultural or fishing-oriented functions.
    • Leisure buildings: Primarily for leisure purposes, not permanent residence.

2. National Plan Report 2018

  • Update of the 2009 report with focus on Sustainability, climate change and regional development.
  • Strategies for developing different areas and natural resources.

Update in the National Plan Report 2023

1. Changing terminology and residence categories

  • Cities and settlements are replaced with settlements to create uniformity and precision in terminology.
  • Dwellings are divided into three categories based on size and function:
    • Large settlements (>1000 inhabitants): Larger cities with extensive Infrastructure and Services.
    • Medium-sized settlements (500-1000 inhabitants): Settlements with moderate service levels and development potential.
    • Small settlements (<500 inhabitants): Smaller towns or settlements with limited Infrastructure and Services.

2. Reasons for change

  • Uniformity and precision: Town and village could create confusion due to different size and function.
  • Sustainable planning: The residences accommodate variations in size and function, which helps with targeted planning.
  • Clearer functional understanding: The residence reflects both physical and functional significance.

3. Consequences of the change

  • All public documents and plans must henceforth use the term "residence".
  • The change supports Greenland's long-term and sustainable development of residential areas.

 

National Planning Directive for the Open Countryside (from 2011)

  • Set of rules for the open land that the municipalities were to administer.
  • Division of the open country into five types of sub-areas:
    • K: Areas for holiday cottages and summer houses.
    • L: Areas of special recreational nature.
    • M: Areas designated for agriculture, aquaculture, etc.
    • N: Areas for engineering and infrastructure.
    • O: Areas that are kept free (e.g. undeveloped areas, extensive grazing, wilderness).

The Regional Development Strategy (RDS)

  • Describes goals and efforts for municipal plan-relevant themes such as business development, tourism, fishing and mineral resource extraction.
  • The development strategy is closely linked to the municipality's objectives and may influence settlement patterns and migration trends.

The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources is continuously updating a map of current nature conservation interests:

Areas Important to Wildlife view database - Overview

The National Museum of Greenland continuously updates map material of registered cultural heritage, including buried ancient monuments, and establishes the general framework for the protection of ancient monuments in Greenland https://kort.nunagis.gl/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=846d76c73c044ffc9b8fc8c26bf9be6b

Place names

The Greenland Language Secretariat continuously registers Greenlandic place names for several important reasons:

  1. Preservation and documentation of cultural heritage
    Place names in Greenland are an important part of the country's cultural heritage. They carry historical, geographical, and often also linguistic meanings that are linked to the lives of previous generations, their understanding of the landscape and their activities. By registering the place names, the Language Secretariat ensures that this part of the cultural heritage is preserved for future generations.
  2. Language preservation and development
    The language of Greenland, Kalaallisut, is closely linked to place names, and many place names are an expression of the Greenlandic way of understanding and describing the landscape. By registering and preserving place names, one ensures that the language is maintained and continues to be used, especially as the place names often reflect an ancient vocabulary and the original ways of speaking.
  3. Improving geographical understanding
    Place names provide important information about an area's geography, history, natural resources, and population. For example, a place name can reveal whether an area is associated with hunting, fishing, or settlement. This knowledge is important both for the modern population and for researchers studying the history and nature of Greenland.
  4. Clarity and uniformity
    There are many places in Greenland where names can vary depending on dialects, or where a place can have multiple names. The Language Secretariat ensures that there is a systematic and uniform approach to registering and using place names. This makes it easier for both public authorities and the population to communicate and identify places correctly.
  5. Promotion of national identity
    Place names are also part of Greenland's national identity and cultural cohesion. By registering and maintaining Greenlandic place names, a strong sense of belonging and pride among the Greenlandic people is supported. This helps strengthen the ties between the population and their surroundings.
  6. Official use
    The registration makes the place names an official part of Greenlandic society. This enables authorities and organizations to use the place names correctly in official documents, maps and plans, which is important for the effective management of the country's resources and infrastructure.

All in all, the ongoing registration of place names is an important task in preserving and promoting both the Greenlandic language and culture and ensuring that the country can be managed effectively and with respect for its historical and cultural background.

https://nunataqqi.gl/

Greenland's hydropower potential in municipal and national planning

Greenland's enormous potential for hydropower forms an important part of national planning and Greenland's green transition. There are over 60 mapped locations with potential for large and medium-sized plants, which can both cover Greenland's electricity consumption and enable export or production of green fuels (P2X).

The hydro potentials are included in national and municipal planning as designated areas for energy purposes. In the municipal plans, the hydropower projects are typically located in uninhabited areas, which reduces the local impact. The sub-areas of the municipal plans have category N.

The website hydropower.gl contains technical and planning information and is continuously updated with new data and projects.
Note: The site is only available in English.