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Sacrifice Zones for a Sustainable State? Greenlandic Mining Politics in an Era of Transition

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The Will to Drill - Mining in Arctic Communites

Part of the book series: Springer Polar Sciences ((SPPS))

Abstract

Greenland is challenged by harsh economic realities. The exploitation of mineral and energy resources seems to be among the most obvious ways to address the challenges of ensuring a viable and sustainable future for Greenland and its communities. The economic issues are particularly important in relation to the ambitions of taking over responsibilities regarding other policy areas like foreign affairs, and monitoring and protection of fisheries rights where the Danish government is still in charge and paying the costs. Resource management in Greenland has been characterized by pragmatic approaches, not only to the managing of the living and renewable resources, but also in connection with the ongoing adjusting the regulations for mining. The block grant from Denmark acts as a stabilizer for Greenland’s economy, reducing overheating in times of large natural-resource revenue as it is reduced when income from extractive industries are of a significant size. This reduces the potential for “boom and bust” scenarios occurring, as observed in other parts of the Arctic. Nevertheless, irrespective of whether one sees the Greenlandic discourse on mining as hegemonic or not in terms of future development, mining activities may have a potentially far reaching impact on various ecosystem services – and hence on these services’ role as developmental alternatives or supplements to mining.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Critical voices in parliament emphasized at the time how the decisions has been a step-back in relation to the process of Self Rule because responsibilities in relation to these matters – which have already been taken home with Self Rule – are hereby returned to Denmark.

  2. 2.

    Further details can be found in Rasmussen (2014a , b), Kommune Kujalleq (2014a), and Kommune Kujalleq 2014b.

  3. 3.

    Australian mining company Greenland Minerals and Energy (GME).

  4. 4.

    Ta for Tantalum, Nb for Niobium, REE for rare earth elements and Z for Zirconium. Analyses of ore samples show that 1.8 % of the ore is Zirconium Oxide, 0.2 % Niobium Oxide, 0.5 % Light Rare Earths, 0.15 % Heavy Rare Earths and 0.02 % Tantalum Oxide.

  5. 5.

    A Foresight analysis is a methodology for the development of local economic and social development strategies based on a structured dialogue between relevant actors, and with input from as well local, regional and national actors (Rasmussen 2017). The purpose is to provide a basis for action, focusing on the potential offered and clarified through the analyses.

  6. 6.

    Visions of development initiatives – Reporting from a workshop on sustainable regional development in South Greenland» (Working Group for Sustainable Regional Development in the Nordic Arctic 2016).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nordregio, Stockholm, Sweden

    Rasmus Ole Rasmussen

  2. Kommune Kujalleq, Kujalleq, Greenland

    Rasmus Ole Rasmussen

  3. Nordland Research Institute, Bodø, Norway

    Arild Gjertsen

Authors
  1. Rasmus Ole Rasmussen
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  2. Arild Gjertsen
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Correspondence to Rasmus Ole Rasmussen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nordland Research Institute, Bodø, Norway

    Brigt Dale

  2. Nordland Research Institute, Bodø, Norway

    Ingrid Bay-Larsen

  3. Faculty of Social Science, Nord University, Bodø, Norway

    Berit Skorstad

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Rasmussen, R.O., Gjertsen, A. (2018). Sacrifice Zones for a Sustainable State? Greenlandic Mining Politics in an Era of Transition. In: Dale, B., Bay-Larsen, I., Skorstad, B. (eds) The Will to Drill - Mining in Arctic Communites. Springer Polar Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62610-9_7

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