We Need to Talk About Mining in the Arctic

The Arctic encompasses a myriad of ecosystems, transcending borders between nations and cultures. It is home to 4 million people, including numerous Indigenous groups making up around 10% of the population. Although underexplored, it is also host to a variety of geologically diverse mineral deposits that are critical to the production of renewable energy and our ability to achieve our climate goals. However, the impact of climate change on the Arctic is magnified and some of our solutions to climate change have the potential to have negative local impacts. Furthermore, the history of mining in the Arctic raises understandable concerns as to whether or not we should be exploring and mining in the Arctic. This article discusses the interplay between the environment, people and development in the Arctic, with a specific focus on the history of exploration and mining in the region. We pose questions such as: “How do we balance the global need for minerals with environmental and social concerns around resource extraction?”, and “can we envisage a future for mining in the Arctic which ensures long-term sustainability, environmental stewardship and Indigenous wellbeing and collaboration?” The answer to some of these questions might lie in examples of more successful resource development in the Arctic, which include Indigenous benefit agreements, braided knowledge systems and shared ownership projects. It is clear that only by incorporating a diversity of voices and partnerships, and challenging business as usual in the Arctic, can we begin to conceive of potential solutions for achieving a just transition.