Political aims on Greenland threaten to ruin international collaborations for the study of ice, climate and the Arctic seabed.
A unilateral administration of Greenland and its resources, such as that pursued by Donald Trump’s policies, would risk putting an end to decades of international scientific collaborations to study the Earth’s ice and climate.
British glaciologist Martin J. Siegert reminds us of this in this phase in which there is high political attention on the island (a semi-autonomous territory which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark). In an article published on The Conversationthe scientist recalls why it is essential that this collaboration, which is so fruitful for science, continues.
Precious exchanges
For decades, Greenland has allowed scientists from all over the world, a good part of them Americans, to drill into its ice, its seabed and its rocks to study the relationship between carbon dioxide and atmospheric temperatures throughout history and the effects of all this on the extent of the ice covering the island.
NASA researchers flew over its territory to map the land beneath the Greenland ice sheet, the largest in the northern hemisphere, with approximately 1.8 million square km of extension and an average thickness of 3 km.
These interactions between scientists from around the world have allowed Arctic science to advance our understanding of phenomena that affect the future of our planet, and all of us.
Heritage to be saved
The ice sheet covers 80% of Greenland’s territory. If this enormous expanse of ice melted entirely, global sea levels would rise by 7.3 metres. Every inch of sea level rise puts 6 million more people at risk of coastal flooding. As NOAA points out, the Greenland ice sheet has been facing an uninterrupted annual mass loss for 27 years: with on average 0.6 millimeters per year of meltwater from its ice sheet entering the sea, Greenland is the second largest contributor to sea level rise, after the thermal expansion of ocean waters due to global warming.
This accelerating melting process pumps fresh water into the North Atlantic, and threatens to disturb a system of ocean currents that moderates the Northern Hemisphere’s climate.
The remaining 20% of Greenland’s soil is ice-free and hosts reserves of critical minerals: highly valuable and difficult to process raw materials (such as rare earths) that are fundamental for the energy transition, because they are used in the production of batteries for electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines. As we can see, Greenland contains potential tools for the health of the planet (ice to preserve, raw materials useful for renewable energy), but they are fragile tools that could backfire on ecosystems if they end up in the wrong hands.
No current agreement
Other polar areas of scientific interest are protected by international treaties. Antarctica has been protected for 60 years by the Antarctic Treaty, which requires treating the frozen continent as a land of peace and scientific research. The Svalbard Islands, under Norwegian sovereignty, are protected by a treaty that allows citizens of almost 50 countries to live and work in the archipelago without the need for a visa, as long as they comply with Norwegian laws.
The Arctic territory is not explicitly protected by any international agreement because, as explained by Renata Giulia Lucchi, marine geologist and sedimentologist, lead researcher at the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics – OGS, “it largely represents the natural extension of the territories of various states that directly overlook it”. Whether Greenland remains open to scientific research depends on international law, and its political stability.
