Opportunistic climate adaptation and public support for sand extraction in Greenland

Mette Bendixen (), Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Jane Lund Plesner and Kelton Minor
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Mette Bendixen: McGill University
Rasmus Leander Nielsen: Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland)
Jane Lund Plesner: University of Copenhagen
Kelton Minor: University of Copenhagen

Nature Sustainability, 2022, vol. 5, issue 11, 991-999

Abstract: Abstract Climate change leads to the deposition of substantial amounts of sediment along the coasts of Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) amid rapidly growing global demand for these resources. Yet, little is known about what the predominantly Inuit population of Kalaallit Nunaat thinks about adaptation opportunities arising from the melt of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Here we conduct a nationally representative survey (N = 939) of Kalaallit (Greenlanders’) views on glacially derived sand extraction, finding that large majorities support extracting and exporting sand but oppose foreign involvement. This pattern of support persists at both the national and subnational levels. Public preferences largely align with Kalaallit Nunaat’s current mineral policy mandating environmental and economic impact assessments of new resource opportunities. In addition, those aware of human-caused climate change have significantly higher odds of both supporting sand extraction and prioritizing environmental impact assessment. Our results reveal broad support for domestically involved, environmentally assessed and economically appraised opportunistic adaptation to Greenland’s melting ice sheet and accumulating sand resources.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-00922-8

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