An SEA describes the physical and biological environment, protected areas, endangered species, levels of pollutants, etc. in an exploration area. The main objective of an SEA is to:

• To provide background knowledge for the Government of Greenland
• Identify where more knowledge is needed for adequate regulation of activities.
• Provide background knowledge for companies wishing to operate in the area – in the context of their preparation of an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report;

Existing SEAs have been developed in the context of past interest in oil and gas exploration. They now contribute to overall background knowledge, which helps the Environmental Agency for Mineral Resource Activities (EAMRA) to regulate raw material activities.

The strategic environmental assessments are prepared and updated by the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy (DCE) and the Greenland Institute of Naturale Resources (GINR), on behalf of EAMRA.

An overview of existing SEAs can be found on the DCE website, which also provides a map portal with visualisation of the data processed.

Below are links to the produced SEAs:

• Bay of Baffin
• Disko Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula, West Greenland
• West Disko
• Davis Strait
• South Greenland
• Western Greenland Sea
• Jameson Land