Living Law® Greenland- climate and geopolitical flashpoint

How climate change and/or geopolitics may determine Greenland's sovereignty in the near future

Climate change is increasingly seen as the single most important issue facing humankind and all species on our planet. Nations across the globe are attempting to coordinate efforts to combat the further warming of the planet. Perhaps the best example of this is the Paris Agreement, under which 196 nations have committed to undertake specific measures to keep the increase in the average temperature on earth from rising to below 2 degrees Celsius (ideally at most 1.5 degrees).

Living Law® aims to make a humble contribution to the discussions around climate change by focusing on particular countries or regions on the "front lines" of the debate. Not so much from a scientific standpoint (that ground is already well-covered by others), but with our usual geopolitical/legal focus. The first in this series is the nation of Greenland, one of the largest nations by size, yet one of the smallest in terms of population. Greenland has a fascinating history, something which played into an international court case to determine who can claim sovereignty there.

Greenland represents a huge expanse of earth, mostly covered by ice. But that is changing, and quite rapidly. Greenland is also an example of a country which may actually see a net (economic) benefit from a warming planet, at least in the short run. This naturally impacts the views of the country’s residents regarding how best to react to climate change. It also impacts the country's foreign relations. Ironically, climate change may make it possible for the residents of Greenland to achieve full self-determination, something many have been pushing for the past few decades. But who determines what happens in Greenland? And why might Greenland tear the NATO military alliance apart? The answers may surprise you.

Dress warmly and explore the background and future direction of this unique corner of the planet!