Welcome to Ignorance is My Privilege, a column dedicated to breaking down the ignorant bubble we live in, separating us from the very real issues in our world. Today’s topic addresses the recent news and debate about America’s potential acquisition of Greenland and how it may affect us here at Rutgers.
Most people would probably know that Greenland is a country inhabited by very few people and mostly made up of ice. While this is true, under that ice layer that blankets the country, lies a plethora of natural resources including oil, rare earth minerals, and much more. This layer of ice can reach as much as 1 mile of thickness at certain points on the island, however as the earth continues to warm and minerals can be seen under the surface, the geopolitical competition to acquire the minerals that Greenland has to offer will continue to escalate.
In late January, President Trump made clear his intent to acquire Greenland, but regardless of if it happens, this plan will not unfold easily. Many people may not know that Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, so while the government of Greenland does have some say or leverage in acquisition talks with the United States and other countries, ultimately, Denmark has the last say. Current public opinion from many indigenous Greenlanders is that they would not like to be acquired by the US, for fears of environmental harm and the destruction of the sacred land that they call their home for mining. While minerals can be immensely valuable to the longevity of society as we know it, there are also many many harms. The Greenland ice sheet has a dome-like structure, with the center being as high as 2 miles tall. This ice has a natural melting process, however in the last 50 years, due to widespread industrialization and emission of greenhouse gases, the cooling rate has sped up immensely. If the entirety of the ice sheet melted, sea levels would rise by at least 20 feet and the effects would be disastrous for our world. We don’t have to worry about the complete melting of the ice sheet for thousands of years, however, as it continues to melt sea levels will continue to rise, and every decision made currently concerning not just Greenland, but our global climate footprint, will greatly affect the populations near the equator and at the poles the most, given that the temperatures are the most extreme there. These are effects we are already experiencing, unfortunately. Thus, not only does Greenland’s ice sheet risk further damage if America acquires it and begins drilling operations, but the 56,000 population there stands to suffer as well.
You may be asking, why should I care? Granted we are nowhere near Greenland, and we are just college students, but it is still so important to be educated on a topic that is so relevant to the future climate of our Earth. Especially due to the environmental harms that can be caused by the mining of minerals there that will trickle down to everyday citizens through the rise of global sea levels.
So what can we as students do about it? Primarily, education is the greatest and simplest tool to have, whether it is informing yourself or others. Secondly, getting involved with clubs and organizations that are working towards combatting the rise of global sea levels and global warming in general. Some great clubs on campus are: Climate Reality RU, SEED, and Rutgers Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA). Lastly, you could also find local organizations or campaigns with officials who are working to ameliorate these issues.
Every action that we take makes an impact, even if it is small so whether it is the climate or some other issue, please try to stay informed and make a change in any way you can!
Ignorance is our privilege, let’s work to be less ignorant about Greenland and the impacts of climate change.