Jul 16, 2021
Greenland will halt all oil exploration despite retreating ice uncovering a potential fortune of oil and mineral resources, the government has announced, adding that it “takes the climate crisis seriously”.
The Inuit Ataqatigiit-led government made the decision on June 24 but announced it on Thursday as the next “natural step” for the semiautonomous territory.
Despite a lack of oil being found around the Arctic island so far, officials have previously seen possible vast reserves that could be uncovered due to climate change.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is around 17.5 billion undiscovered barrels of oil and 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas off Greenland.
If tapped successfully, these reserves could dramatically change the fortunes of the island’s 57,000 citizens – and could have paved the way to the long-held dream of independence from Denmark.
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