Greenland’s parliament unanimously votes to ban deep-sea mining until 2029

Greenland’s parliament unanimously adopted a proposal on Thursday calling on the government to draft, by the end of 2029, a law banning deep-sea mining and exploration. The measure aims to protect the marine environment and the population’s main sources of livelihood.

The proposal does not immediately establish a permanent ban, but provides for a moratorium that the government may extend in successive two-year periods. WWF Greenland welcomed the vote, saying it represents an important step, as the effects of deep-sea mining on ecosystems are still insufficiently understood.

The decision comes amid residents’ concerns about the impact on fishing, a pillar of the territory’s economy, and hunting, which is essential to many communities. At the same time, deposits beneath the island and the seabed are viewed as a potential source of income and as support for the goal of independence from Denmark.

The vote took place one day after US President Donald Trump’s statements about beginning the extraction of oil, gas and minerals in Greenland. The territory has suspended the issuance of new oil and gas permits since 2021.