Greenland, the world’s largest island, has long held a magnetic allure. Over the centuries, it has drawn explorers, warriors, and world powers alike— from Erik the Red, who established the first European settlement over a thousand years ago, to the Allied Forces of World War II, who recognized its strategic significance.
As the planet warms and ice retreats, Greenland’s vast, untapped resources are capturing renewed global interest. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly expressed ambitions over the island, underscoring its growing geopolitical and economic importance.
Decades of geological surveys and advanced mapping have revealed Greenland’s rich deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals, key ingredients for the world’s transition to green energy. Additionally, strong indications of fossil fuel reserves hidden beneath its ice-covered landscape fuel speculation about its economic potential.
Yet, despite the mounting excitement over Greenland’s resource boom, the journey from discovery to extraction is anything but simple. The harsh Arctic climate, logistical complexities, and intricate geopolitical negotiations make mineral and fossil fuel exploration a multilayered, multinational, and multidecadal challenge. As the world looks toward Greenland, the question remains: how will its hidden wealth reshape the future? Read More
News Credit: BBC
Picture Credit: Nigel Baker and GEUS