Being part of the Arctic Circle, Greenland experiences cold temperatures year round. Generally, the highest temperatures are during the summer months where it can reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while the lowest typically occur in February¹. The ice sheets that cover most of Greenland also play a role in the weather. Their white surfaces reflect sunlight, deflecting heat away from the land and back into the atmosphere. This can impact weather in the area, particularly resulting in dramatic wind patterns². Agriculture is not commonly practiced on a large scale in Greenland because of the low temperatures and unavailability of suitable land.

Because of the population's reliance on food that is hunted and gathered from their surroundings, issues with the environment are more easily perceived and come with greater consequences. For instance, there are growing concerns about contaminants in fish and sea mammals, both of which are essential for traditional Greenlandic Inuit diets. Sea mammals in particular, like whales and seals, have possibly dangerous levels of mercury and organic pollutants, making them unsafe for consumption³. Hunters and fisherman have also noted that it is becoming more difficult to catch food, most likely as a result of changing climate⁴. While there are low levels of food insecurity in Greenland, these environmental issues threaten Inuit culture as the difficulty of accessing culturally appropriate foods increases.

The most pressing environmental issue in Greenland is climate change and its impacts on the ecosystem and weather patterns. Shifts in temperatures throughout the year can impact animal movements, reducing their availability for hunters and fishermen. Animals and plants that Inuit people rely on for food, such as polar bears, may also struggle to survive in the shifting climate. The effects of climate change are particularly visible in the melting of Greenland's ice sheets, which are also responsible for maintaining the climate. Glaciers and ice sheets across Greenland, such as the Karale Glacier shown on the right, have dramatically reduced in size. This glacier in particular has retreated by over six kilometers since 1933 when the top picture was taken⁵. About 92% of people in Greenland believe that climate change is happening, the majority of which see it as a serious issue, partially because it has visibly altered the landscape. Many have also observed it in their limited access to culturally appropriate foods⁶. Much of Greenland's economy relies on hunting, fishing, and gathering, so both Inuit culture and economic stability is at risk from climate change.