As Norway’s isolated islands leave coal mining behind, Huw Paige asks if it is realistic for them to become a green exemplar for the Arctic.
If you die on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, it’s best if you’ve planned ahead. Burial in the permanently frozen ground is prohibited as it prevents decay, and healthcare is very basic, so anyone seriously or terminally ill must leave for the mainland.
It’s the same story for those starting out in life: the lack of a maternity hospital on the islands means that expectant parents make a similar journey. These realities demonstrate the problem faced by
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