Rare-earth mining and sovereign statehood in Greenland : ‘Sustainable engagement’ with extractivism at Kvanefjeld ...
Climate change in the Arctic has precipitated intense speculation about the ecological, economic, political, and socio-cultural futures that await the region of the world most affected by climate change. In Greenland, a mining proposal at the Kvanefjeld geological site has animated local debate sinc...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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University of British Columbia
2022
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0417526 https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0417526 |
| Summary: | Climate change in the Arctic has precipitated intense speculation about the ecological, economic, political, and socio-cultural futures that await the region of the world most affected by climate change. In Greenland, a mining proposal at the Kvanefjeld geological site has animated local debate since 2009 when the nation re-gained control over its subsoil rights from Denmark. Revenue from the mine, proponents argue, would offset the island’s dependency on Denmark and, thus, serve as a concrete step towards their eventual independence. Opponents, however, warn against the possibly catastrophic ecological, social, and political consequences of mining at this site. As a case study, Kvanefjeld offers insights into the local and situated knowledge making processes that inform policy making and risk-management in the Arctic region. This thesis familiarizes the reader with a fast-changing policy-issue and, simultaneously, offers a study of the production of expert knowledge in Greenland. To this end, this project ... |
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