Contemplating governance for social sustainability in mining in Greenland

Abstract

In 2009, Greenland received greater autonomy from Denmark and the right to elect government and parliament, the former gaining sovereignty and administration over a number of areas including mineral resources. Since then, the development of mining industry has been forcefully promoted by Greenland's self-government. The political discourse of decision-makers has stressed the importance of sustainability in developing the mining industry, and in particular the social component of sustainability. This article analyses the social sustainability approach of national mining policy and the rapidly evolving governance for mining in Greenland. Findings suggest that Greenland has been proactive in establishing an internationally ambitious governance framework for social sustainability in mining. Mining is perceived to be a contributor to social sustainability through increased economic growth, employment and skills development. Government mining policy and governance framework have not always received the support of local communities and in response the legal framework has been further developed to better promote local participation in mining governance. However, the analysis proposes that despite the discourse around social sustainability, mining policy and governance prioritize economic aspects, giving environmental and social considerations a lower priority.