Greenland’s government announced on Thursday that it would stop issuing licenses for oil and gas exploration, saying the autonomous Danish territory takes “climate change seriously.”
“…The Greenlandic government believes that the price of oil extraction is too high. This is based upon economic calculations, but considerations of the impact on climate and the environment also play a central role in the decision,” the government said in a news release.
“Against this background, Naalakkersuisut has decided to cease issuing new licenses for oil and gas exploration in Greenland. This step has been taken for the sake of our nature, for the sake of our fisheries, for the sake of our tourism industry, and to focus our business on sustainable potentials,” the government continued.
According to The Associated Press, the decision was made on June 24 but publicized Thursday.
Since the 1970s, companies such as ExxonMobil and Shell have tried to drill for oil in Greenland but mostly failed in their efforts, Reuters reported. However, the government said that a recent Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) study said there may be 18 billion derisked barrels on the island’s west coast.
Some officials were hopeful that Greenland would find oil so that the revenue generated could provide some economic independence from Denmark, the AP reported.
Reuters notes that the government relies on its fishing industry for revenue.
Greenland’s government “takes climate change seriously,” Minister for Agriculture, Self-sufficiency, Energy and Environment, Kalistat Lund said in a statement.
The environmental nonprofit group Greenpeace praised the decision on Twitter saying, “BOOM. Greenland bans all new oil exploration due to #ClimateEmergency and environmental concerns. No time to lose. Who’s next?”
Yeah, well if we all stop exploring for and using oil, what will Greenpeace use to power their ships which currently use oil? Check this out: “The third Rainbow Warrior is the first ship in our fleet designed and built specifically for Greenpeace. She is one of the most environmentally-friendly ships ever made, built of mostly sustainable materials, with huge sails, and a super-efficient diesel engine when the wind isn’t doing it. She comes equipped with a helicopter deck, state-of-the-art communications capabilities, and room for 30 crew.” Another article details the ships power: “Rainbow Warrior III is a sailing ship mostly dependent on wind energy. It, however, has a back-up engine, 1,425kW Caterpillar C3512, that runs on diesel-electric propulsion. The back-up engine is used during bad weather conditions. Read at https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/about/ships/ and https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/rainbow-warrior/
Also those helicopters they plan on landing on their shipboard landing pads use jet fuel which is made from oil.
And the Greenpeace III has a 1425 KW Diesel-Electric Gen for bad weather and no wind conditions. An article I researched said, ” Rainbow Warrior III is a sailing ship mostly dependent on wind energy. It, however, has a back-up engine, 1,425kW Caterpillar C3512, that runs on diesel-electric propulsion. The back-up engine is used during bad weather conditions.What will they do when there is no oil extracted?
Maybe they should actually go very green and use hydrogen!
Oh and by the way, that 1425 KW diesel engine is about the same as two large 18 wheeler truck engines which are usually around 825 KW.
And when you think about it, the fact that they have a 1425 KW Diesel engine on their ship as back up says that even they are dependent on oil !!!! Even they are admitting that there are some things wind cannot do and oil can do.