Car imports have nearly stopped. There has hardly any replacement taken place for two years now. This is obviously an opportunity to expedite the transition to a new generation of cars running on local energy. We at Driving Sustainability have pointed out the fact that importing energy to Iceland should not be necessary. We export the majority of our green energy in the form of aluminum blocks while importing oil for transport. Somehow this does not quite compute.

What technologies are being pursued in Iceland that may have lasting implications?
 
Developments in all facets of sustainable transport are exponential. In the case of Reykjavík, the long-term solutions are clear to us; transportation systems based on ample local electricity and strong electric grid. We believe it’s realistic to think in decades when transforming a whole system and have initiated a program we call “Reykjavík 2020 vision” that simply points out the rationale for using local energy for transport. Eventually, Iceland could lead the way in the implementation of a sustainable society that uses 100 percent renewable local energy.

Many cities aspire to take the lead in sustainable transport and we are building our international capacity to assist cities to live up to challenging goals in this respect. We want to leverage our international multidisciplinary task force to provide unbiased advice and create events that catalyze progress.

How would you describe the current state of Iceland’s economic and political situation?

This is no small question! In short, the economy is hurting with the effects of the banking crash, weak currency and tremendous debt resulting from the authorities’ deciding to cover the bankrupt privately owned banks’ commitments. The political situation is equally fragile with politicians having to concurrently face natural and financial crisis. This “double scoop” crisis would be hard to deal with for the very best of leaders.

A very strong wave of young people coming up with new business ideas and even taking on social reform through social networking platforms (www.ministryofideas.is) has emerged. New companies are being formed with disruptive technologies and systems and new ways of doing business – future exports. These people are, however, very mobile and “virtual,” and politicians need to be careful in any decision-making so that they won’t lose this talent out of the country.

News accounts have said people are continuing to move from the country to other nations; is this really the case from what you see? How widespread is this? If people are leaving, which countries are they going to?

The Icelandic workforce is quite mobile. Icelanders known for being hard working, highly educated and proficiency in other languages is common; especially English. Therefore, “brain drain” is an imminent threat. The Nordic countries are the most common destinations of those that choose to leave. The homogeneity of lifestyle, language and the common heritage are clearly factors, as is the relative ease by which people move between the countries; they are in essence a single employment area.