In the ever-evolving story of Icelandic politics, the founding of a new party devoted to environmental issues marks a notable moment. October 2024 witnessed the creation of The Greens, known in Icelandic as Græningjar, a group established with the goal of making nature and climate central to national debate.
A bold mission for nature
The Greens set out with a specific and ambitious agenda: creating a national park in Iceland’s highlands and putting climate action at the forefront of policy. The party underscores concerns over the management of Iceland’s natural resources, expressing a desire for greater protection against unsustainable practices. Their vision is simple but far-reaching: environmental interests should not take a back seat in lawmaking.
Kikka Sigurðardóttir, the founder, describes the movement as growing from a need to address climate change and resource management more decisively than has been done before. The party draws inspiration from green parties across Europe, aiming for a comparable role in Iceland’s political landscape.
Challenges and political entry
Shortly after the party’s creation, Bjarni Jónsson, who had recently parted ways with the established Left-Green Movement, joined The Greens. This provided the new group with a voice in the Althing, Iceland’s parliament. Bjarni’s move drew attention to disappointment with the existing green politics in parliament, especially around climate policy implementation.
Despite this brief moment of parliamentary presence, The Greens decided not to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections. The decision, announced just days after securing their registration, was due to practical challenges. The party lacked enough endorsements to run candidates at that time.
Undeterred, The Greens have set their sights further ahead, planning to participate in municipal elections in 2026. Founders continue to emphasise that environmental issues must become a defining theme for Iceland’s future, and are open to collaboration with other parties if environmental priorities are assured.
The arrival of Græningjar suggests a persistent and growing interest in ecological politics within Iceland, echoing broader global discussions about the urgency of climate action and stewardship of natural places.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
