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The Documentary: Stories from the New Silk Road: Iceland

Stories from the New Silk Road: Iceland

19/12/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Stories from the New Silk Road: Iceland

How is China's Polar Silk Road impacting Iceland?

As the Earth warms, there are new frontiers to be explored; from geothermal energy to scientific research, Anna Holligan asks what does China's Polar Silk Road mean for Iceland?

In 2013 Iceland made history by becoming the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China. It was aimed at increasing exports from Iceland to China as well as opening up Iceland to cheaper Chinese consumer goods. 

Geothermal energy has meant that Iceland is effectively carbon neutral. Its expertise in this area has led to collaboration with China and its geothermal model is changing China's energy mix. One man behind this collaboration is Sigurdur Atli Jonsson, CEO of Arctic Green Energy. Anna asks him how will geothermal help shape the future needs of China's energy consumption? 

Iceland and China have steadily increased their scientific co-operation in the Arctic. In October 2018, the China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory was officially opened in the city of Karholl, 440 km north of Reykjavík. Set up to monitor climate and environmental change in the Arctic, the observatory is managed by the Polar Research Institute of China and Iceland's Institute of Research Centres. Station manager Halldor Johannsson explains the impact this collaboration has on Iceland. How is information shared with the second biggest economy in the world? And what could this eventually mean in terms of trade and transport across the Arctic region?

Presenter: Anna Holligan
Producer: Peter Shevlin
Editor: Alan Hall
A C60Media production for BBC World Service

(Photo: The aurora borealis or Northern Lights, is seen over Godafoss waterfall, east of Akureyri, northern Iceland. Credit: Mariana Suarez/AFP)

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