A ban on oil and gas exploration puts Greenland on the green scoreboard

The commercial interest is not considered high enough for Greenland to be responsible for the climate, environmental and natural risks associated with oil and gas extraction. As the first Arctic nation, Greenland is putting an end to this extraction.

Published March 12, 2022

The nature of the Arctic is vulnerable to adverse impacts and disturbances, and a possible oil spill would have irreversible consequences. Therefore, it is obvious and long-term that the Government of Greenland takes action against oil exploration. There is simply no need to add fuel to the climate fire as the world acts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The Government of Greenland says the future does not lie in oil. In this way, nature and the environment are protected from potential large-scale accidents and natural resources vital for hunting, fishing and tourism are spared. This provides a starting point for achieving an international focus on more sustainable management of Greenland and its natural resources. 

Therefore, the future lies in spending resources on what Greenland has to offer as part of the solution to climate challenges, which applies both to nature and business, including, of course, renewable energy solutions. 

To truly live up to the phrase “the future does not lie in oil”, much still needs to be done within Greenland’s borders. It may no longer want to contribute to the global oil market and emphasise a future of renewable energy, but Greenland still has a large part of society that relies on oil.