Iceland review - 2015, Qupperneq 36

34 ICELAND REVIEW
areas all over the world. The air in Reykjavík isn’t clean. We
surpass the health protection limit many times a year because
of small particle air pollution—[probably] mainly caused by
studded tires—and of sulfur pollution.” Guðrún mentions that
studies have shown a correlation between levels of sulfur pollu-
tion from geothermal power plants and the use of respiratory
medicine in the capital region.
NATURE’S VALUE
ISS’ projects are varied, ranging from calculating how the prof-
its from marine resources can be maximized, to how soil erosion
can be prevented, to the value of beautiful surroundings. “One
of our recent projects was on the worth of Heiðmörk,” Guðrún
says of a forested area on the outskirts of the capital region,
popular for outdoor recreation. “Usually when making cost
estimates, the cost of steel [and other materials], hours of work,
etc. is accounted for. But how much does material and visual
pollution of the land really cost? Everything has to be taken into
consideration,” she states, mentioning clean air, clean ground
water, soil, vegetation, wood, food and recreation.
“One of the factors we’ve been studying is whether people
notice high-voltage transmission lines. They bother some, oth-
ers don’t mind them much. People seem to consider it a nec-
essary evil, a sacrifice that must be made. People have written
off Hellisheiði [the geothermal area where Hellisheiði power
plant is located] as untouched nature—it’s been sacrificed.”
Currently, a heated debate is taking place over whether a high
voltage power line should be strung across Sprengisandur,
where one of the two roads across the central highlands lies,
or whether an underground cable should be opted for. “First
we must ask: ‘Is it necessary?’ Then we must keep in mind that
different options can be adopted in different places, it doesn’t
have to be the same everywhere.” Guðrún points out that while
power lines may not be pleasant to look at, underground cables
also have their downsides. “Underground cables are less visible,
but they are dug down, which of course causes environmental
disruption. It’s easy to dig into sand but placing a cable in lava
leaves irreparable damage.” Landsnet, the company operating
the country’s electricity transmission grid, has sponsored ISS’s
research on the subject.
ISS has also studied environmental impact assessments (EIAs),
showing that tools and procedures adopted in such assessments
need to be improved and quantified so that the EIAs can be
verified later on, which is not the case at the moment. Guðrún
calls for a changed approach to EIAs. “The statements are too
vague. What does ‘Some impact on birdlife’ mean, to take an
example? Or ‘Immaterial impact on wetland’? This must be
quantified in some way.” Guðrún is optimistic that their efforts
will pay off. “Many companies are prepared to take part. We
don’t consider them as our opponents, we have to work together
to improve things. They have their methods and it’s our role to
point out the weaknesses and argue for improvements. We need
to convince the public, the companies and the authorities.”
WAKE-UP CALL
Guðrún explains that it’s difficult for scientists to reach the
general public. The jargon is hard to understand and scientists
are trained to be cautious in how they express themselves, she
says, resulting in them sounding rather boring and not getting
the message across. “So we asked ourselves: ‘Who are experts
in making themselves heard and changing people’s perception
of things?’ And the answer is: ‘artists.’” ISS and the Icelandic
Academy of the Arts have launched a Nordic project called
Konnect, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. They will
bring together art students, top environmental scientists and
mentors in four-day workshops, to be held in all the Nordic
countries in the coming years, where the biggest environmental
challenges of today will be discussed. The workshop locations
are relevant to the theme, too. Guðrún mentions a few exam-
ples: “We will take them to Kolsstaðir in Borgarfjörður [West
Iceland], a farm which was sustainably renovated, this autumn.
The Danes plan to go to an island which will sink if sea levels
rise. The Swedes are looking into combining this with their
circus colleges. I look forward to taking part in connecting art
and science this way,” she enthuses. “They will define the most
pressing environmental subjects and make connections between
cause and consequence. Hence the name Konnect.” Connecting
cause and consequence includes, for example, that pollution will
lead to species going extinct. “If you treat nature badly, some-
thing horrible will happen.” It is hoped that a series of artworks
will be created as a result of the subjects discussed.
Guðrún is calling for an awakening. “It isn’t more than three
generations ago that people acknowledged that life was part
of a cycle that needed to be in balance. They fed the leftovers
to the chickens, which again provided them with eggs… you
get my point. I’m not saying everyone should have chickens in
their backyards, but people have to realize how things are inter-
connected,” she says. “We must hand the land over to the next
generation in no worse condition than we received it. We only
have the earth on loan.” *
SCIENCE
“Geothermal resources are mined. They renew
themselves in a geological timeframe, but
not in the timeframe we’re operating in
reference to——not in a human lifetime.”