Greenland sled dog champion fears loss of culture as ice melts

In Ilulissat, a five-time Greenlandic sled dog champion says unusually warm winter weather left January without sea ice and has disrupted traditional dog sled travel while nearby glaciers retreat and permafrost thaws.

Jørgen Kristensen, a 62-year-old five-time Greenlandic sled dog champion, says this winter in Ilulissat there was no snow or sea ice in January and that traditional sled routes are no longer usable. He describes a lifetime of travel and hunting tied to ice and says the loss of ice is affecting local routines and parts of Greenlandic culture. Officials and local experts report rising temperatures are thawing permafrost, causing buildings to sink and pipes to crack, and that the nearby Sermeq Kujalleq glacier has retreated significantly over recent decades. Some residents also report increased external interest in Greenland as the ice retreats, linked to questions about mineral resources and access. Key points: - Kristensen reports that unusually warm conditions left Ilulissat without snow or sea ice in January, disrupting dog sled travel. - Local experts say permafrost thaw is damaging infrastructure and that Sermeq Kujalleq glacier has retreated about 40 kilometres over a lifetime, as reported by Karl Sandgreen. - Residents and community leaders report these changes affect hunting, travel and cultural practices, and some note growing outside interest tied to resources. Summary: Traditional dog sledding and coastal travel in parts of Greenland are reported to be disrupted by unusually warm winters, retreating glaciers and thawing permafrost, with local impacts on infrastructure and cultural practices. Undetermined at this time.