Political Ecology Analysis Concerning Mineral Resource Exploitation in Greenland
Author
Raáb, Renáta Rózsa
Term
4. term
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-10-15
Abstract
This thesis examines mineral resource exploitation in Greenland through a political ecology lens combined with resilience thinking within a social-ecological system. It asks why foreign investors dominate the mining sector, what this means for local communities, and how resilience principles are applied in practice. A comparative case study of the Isua project (Greenland Mineral Ltd.) and the Baffin Island project in Nunavut, both focused on iron ore extraction, is used to illuminate similarities and differences. Methodologically, the study applies a mixed design, drawing on qualitative sources (government and business reports, legislation, and scientific papers) and quantitative data (statistics from governments and organizations and interactive mining maps). The research concludes that Greenland should strengthen resilience in mining operations, as companies in Canada appear more transparent and more resilient in their engagement with affected communities. It also highlights the need for further social science analysis of mineral exploitation, including the impacts of pandemics such as COVID-19, to support a more robust and resilient industry.
Afhandlingen undersøger udnyttelsen af mineralske ressourcer i Grønland gennem en politisk økologisk ramme koblet med resilience thinking i et social-økologisk system. Den adresserer, hvorfor udenlandske investorer dominerer minedriften, hvilke betydninger dette har for lokale samfund, og hvordan resiliensprincipper anvendes i praksis. Et komparativt casestudie af Isua-projektet (Greenland Mineral Ltd.) og Baffin Island-projektet i Nunavut, begge med fokus på udvinding af jernmalm, anvendes til at belyse sammenhænge og forskelle. Metodisk benyttes en blandet tilgang med kvalitative kilder (regerings- og virksomhedsrapporter, lovgivning og videnskabelige artikler) samt kvantitative data (statistik fra regeringer og organisationer samt interaktive minedatabaser). Undersøgelsen konkluderer, at Grønland bør styrke resiliensen i minedriften, da canadiske selskaber fremstår mere gennemsigtige og mere resiliente i deres tilgang til berørte lokalsamfund. Desuden peger afhandlingen på behovet for yderligere samfundsvidenskabelig analyse af mineraludvinding, herunder af pandemiers effekter såsom COVID-19, for at understøtte en mere robust og modstandsdygtig industri.
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