Most of Greenland, an area of about two million square kilometers, is covered in ice. However, the polar regions are warming at a rate at least twice the global average, leading to accelerated melting with serious implications for climate stability.
The main cause is emissions from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, which have increased the Earth's temperature, with the Arctic being disproportionately affected.
Greenland and melting ice: The global consequences
According to scientists from the Danish Meteorological Institute, in a single year (up to August 2025) Greenland lost about 105 billion tons of ice. This is not an isolated phenomenon, as the ice sheet has been steadily thinning for almost three decades.
The loss of ice is leading to rising sea levels, which have already risen about 10 centimeters since 1993. If all of Greenland’s ice were to melt – something that is not expected within a century – sea levels could rise by more than seven meters, exacerbating flooding and extreme weather events.
Melting ice reduces the reflectivity of the Earth’s surface, allowing the oceans to absorb more heat. This further accelerates warming and affects ocean currents.
Research shows that the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is helping to slow down important ocean currents, with potential impacts on weather patterns even in the southern hemisphere.
Greenland: Mineral wealth and geopolitical interest
Beyond the climate, Greenland is at the center of international interest due to its rich deposits of graphite, zinc and rare earths – materials critical for clean energy technologies. The European Union considers many of these to be of strategic importance.
However, mining remains difficult due to environmental conditions, while the local government has banned uranium mining. At the same time, interest in oil has been limited, as no new exploration permits have been issued since 2021 for environmental and economic sustainability reasons.
The warming of the Arctic is opening up new shipping routes, significantly reducing the distances between Asia and Europe. China is promoting the so-called “Polar Silk Road”, which passes through the northern coast of Russia and is navigable only a few months a year.
Despite the economic opportunities, environmental groups warn of serious risks from increased shipping, such as black carbon pollution. At the same time, an international race to build icebreakers has begun, with Russia leading the way and NATO countries boosting their capabilities.
Greenland, then, is not just a remote island. It is a point of intersection of climate, economics and geopolitics, with developments that will determine the future far beyond the Arctic.
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