Critical minerals in the Arctic
The Swedish National China Centre (NKK) is participating in the project Critical Minerals in the Arctic: Challenges and Perspectives for the Nordic Countries (CRIMINA), funded by NordForsk.
The project aims to develop ideas and provide a knowledge base to help the Nordic countries address the challenges posed by the rapidly expanding critical minerals industry in the Arctic in a sustainable and responsible manner. It explores questions such as:
- What role can the Nordic countries play in meeting the global demand for critical minerals – especially within the framework of the EU’s ambitions?
- Can the Arctic help reduce Europe’s dependence on countries like China?
- How does the extraction of these minerals impact the environment, and how does this align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
- How can the voices of Arctic Indigenous peoples and local communities be included in decision-making processes?
Cross-cutting themes such as sustainability, local participation, and geopolitics are central to the project.
NKK is primarily responsible for issues related to critical minerals, in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS). Our focus includes China’s mineral policy, its role in the critical mineral value chain, and the geopolitics surrounding access to and trade in these resources.
The Swedish Institute of International Affairs’ program for Global Politics and Security (GPS) is also involved. The project is ongoing until 2029.
More information can be found here:
Critical minerals in the Arctic: Challenges and perspectives for the Nordic countries (CRIMINA)
Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / NTB scanpix / TT