Climate change
effects of climate change. The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, leading to significant environmental and social changes that deeply impact Greenland’s population.
One of the most visible consequences is the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, which contributes to rising sea levels. This not only affects global coastlines but also disrupts local ecosystems. Traditional hunting and fishing practices, essential to the Inuit way of life, are becoming increasingly difficult due to thinning ice and shifting animal migration patterns. The disappearance of certain species and the arrival of new ones were also frequently mentioned, along with the increasing presence of polar bears further south. Many Greenlanders depend on these activities for sustenance and cultural identity, and their disruption threatens food security and traditional knowledge transmission.
Tupaarnaq Kreutzmann Kleist recalls a particularly alarming event: "A few years ago, a community in northern Greenland was literally starving because they could no longer fish properly. The consequences of climate change can be truly devastating."
Additionally, climate change is altering Greenland’s economy. While some see opportunities in new shipping routes and resource extraction as ice retreats, others fear the environmental risks and socio-economic inequalities that may arise. Increased mining and oil exploration could provide jobs and revenue, but they also raise concerns about pollution and the displacement of local communities.
The changing climate is also affecting livestock farming. Winter precipitation increasingly forms ice, killing the grass, whereas snow previously protected it. As a result, livestock has no food in the summer. Previously, sheep were left outside in winter as the grass was present under the snow, but now they are kept in barns throughout the winter. These changes have caused general concern, although the overall discourse remains one of the Greenlanders' ability to adapt.
Tupaarnaq Kreutzmann Kleist, a 39-year-old sheep farmer, describes the visible impacts of climate change:
"We can see climate change everywhere now. Polar bears are coming closer and closer to our homes, the sea ice is unstable and makes our travel dangerous, and frost settles everywhere, killing the grass that feeds our livestock."
For older farmers, these shifts mark an alarming transformation. Ule Appavison, 68, recalls how much things have changed:
"Before, we used to let the sheep graze even in winter. Today, that is no longer possible… I don’t know what will become of our profession."
The changing climate is also affecting infrastructure. Rising temperatures are causing permafrost to thaw, weakening building foundations and roads. In coastal areas, increased storm surges and erosion threaten settlements, forcing some communities to consider relocation.
Despite these challenges, Greenlanders are adapting. Some communities are shifting towards alternative food sources, investing in tourism, and advocating for sustainable policies. However, long-term resilience requires global action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change’s effects.