On 1 January 2013, the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA) was established as the authority that regulates activities relating to minerals and the environment, nature and climate.

EAMRA cooperates with the other departments in the Ministry of Nature and Environment and with the Licence Department and the Inspection and Technical Department in the Ministry of Business,  Raw Materials, Energy, Justice and Gender Equality. The cooperation contributes to ensuring a focus on the protection of the environment and nature and to promoting the development of society on a scientific and sustainable basis in respect of human life and with the aim of preserving animal and plant life. In addition, the environmental competencies within our area are anchored in the professional community with the other environmental authorities in the Greenland Self-Government.

Watch the video below for a presentation of the work of EAMRA (IN DANISH ONLY).

Footnotes for the video:

• 0:00 – Najaaraq Demant-Poort is no longer employed by the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities.
  
  
• 0:09 – The provisions of the Law on raw materials were replaced and revised in 2023 by the Mineral Resource Act and in 2024 by the Local Mineral Activities Act.
  
  
• 0:22 – Environmental chapters previously covered by the Raw Materials Act are now contained in the Mineral Resource Act and the Local Mineral Activities Act. 

Scientific Advisors to the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities

Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) and Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) at Aarhus University are independent scientific institutions and advisers to the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA). GINR and DCE carry out scientific studies, collect data and disseminate professional assessments and recommendations to EAMRA. These assessments form the basis for our preparation of guidelines and decisions on, for example, regulation and supervision in connection with applications for new permits and activities related to feasibility, exploration, exploitation and mine closure. Cooperation with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) and the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) also contributes to recommendations concerning the setting of conditions and the lighting of direct, derived and cumulative environmental impacts and mitigation measures.

The video below describes what independent scientific advice is (IN DANISH ONLY).

Footnotes for the video:

• 0:05 – Kristine Lynge-Pedersen is no longer employed by the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities.
  
  
• 0:12 – GERT Asmund is no longer affiliated to the DCE.

The following two videos show examples of advisors from the DCE who give a brief account of their work (IN DANISH ONLY).

Footnotes for the video:

• 0:00 – Violeta Hansen is no longer employed by the DCE.
  
  

EAMRA bases its decisions on evidence-based knowledge and monitoring, with the aim of understanding the implications of raw material activities and ensuring proportionate mitigation measures are applied.

The discharge of substances that are potentially harmful to the environment may be limited by the treatment of wastewater or by conditions on the quantity and degradability of substances that are harmful to the environment. Conditions are set for raw materials companies to comply with limit values set for discharges to the aquatic environment and emissions to the air environment. They are based on environmental quality criteria and background environmental values, see the video below for further explanation.

The video below illustrates the basic principles of pollution and limit values (IN DANISH ONLY).

The background and the basis for EAMRA's cooperation with DCE and GN are outlined and illustrated below (IN DANISH ONLY).

Footnotes for the video:

• 0:00 – Najaaraq Demant-Poort is no longer employed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

• 2:10 – The provisions of the Law on raw materials were replaced and revised in 2023 by the Mineral Resource Act and in 2024 by the Local Mineral Activities Act.

Below are the contact details of the scientific advisors:

Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE)

Anders Mosbech
Head of Research and Advice, Senior Researcher
amo@bios.au.dk

Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR)

Karl Brix Zinglersen
Head of Department 
kazi@natur.gl

Citizens

It is a high priority ensuring that all citizens are informed and have the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and information on raw materials activities. This can only be achieved if information about the activities and their regulation is made available and communicated in a comprehensible manner to the public. This work is central to the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA). Citizen engagement is an important aspect in this context and crucial for understanding and addressing local environmental issues. Therefore, we actively encourage citizens to share their knowledge and possible concerns so that the basis for decision-making in concrete cases can be expanded and improved.

Transparency, as well as open, reciprocal and participatory communication with citizens, are essential to establish a solid and well-informed basis for decision-making, building on the latest knowledge of environmental issues. We prioritise information sharing with the public, especially with the communities affected by raw materials activities. This includes ensuring access for citizens to information sharing and participation in citizens’ meetings, as well as taking into account local environmental interests.

On this website you will find information on when and how citizens can be involved in nature, environmental and climate protection in relation to raw materials activities. Among other things, you can find out more about

• Citizens’ meetings during Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Citizen engagement during citizen engagement.
• Consultation material (reports, white papers, background material) from concrete raw materials projects here.

If you wish to contact the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA), please write to eamra@nanoq.gl or call (+ 299) 34 50 00.

Mining companies

The Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA) emphasises open and rewarding cooperation with rights holders in the field of raw materials. Our main tasks include being accessible and open to environmental and regulatory issues and dialogue. We are actively working to provide knowledge, information and resources to right holders, including access to documentation related to environmental aspects, environmental requirements, as well as best available technologies and best environmental practices in the field of mining.

When applying for exploitation of mineral deposits in Greenland, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be carried out. You can read in detail about this topic and see the guidelines for preparing an EIA here.

If you, as a citizen or company, wish to apply for a permit under the Law on Mineral Activities or the Local Mineral Activities Act, you must apply to the Mineral Resources Authority. The Licence Department coordinates the processing of applications etc. with the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA). You can read more about the distribution of the work of the Mineral Resource Authority here.