Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources Naaja Nathanielsen speaks during an interview with AFP in her office in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 6, 2025.
Odd Andersen | Afp | Getty Images
Greenland has little interest in harnessing its massive resource potential to become a top mining country.
The world’s largest island has been thrust into the geopolitical spotlight in recent months, with U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly saying that Washington should control the autonomous Danish territory — even refusing to rule out the use of military or economic force.
Trump’s pursuit of Greenland comes as mining executives describe the race for the Arctic island’s largely untapped extractable resources as an “enormous opportunity.” However,Greenland’s harsh climate, remote landscape and lack of infrastructure have all been cited as barriers to the island’s strategic potential.
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources, told CNBC that exploiting some of the territory’s highly prized minerals is “absolutely possible and viable,” noting that several mining projects are already underway.
“We do have projects underway that I think are very promising: graphite, gold, copper, nickel, molybdenum and so on. Rare earths as well,” Nathanielsen told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Friday.
“But for Greenland, we are not necessarily interested in becoming a really great mining country. We just really want 5 or 10 active mines at any given time,” Nathanielsen said.
“We are a very small population so, for us, we don’t need the entire country to be covered in mines. We are happy with managing a few and I think that is feasible,” she added.
Greenland, which currently has just two active mines on the island, has long pitched itself as a Western alternative to China’s near monopoly on rare earth elements.
Indeed, a 2023 survey by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) found that 25 of the 34 minerals recognized as critical raw materials by the European Commission were found in Greenland.
These minerals include graphite, molybdenum and titanium, all of which are expected to play a key role in the pivot to more sustainable energy sources.
Mining operations
Earlier this week, mining development firm Critical Metals Corporation announced it had received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a loan worth up to $120 million to fund the firm’s Tanbreez rare earths mine in southern Greenland.
Notably, the funding package marked the Trump administration’s first overseas investment in a mining project.
In this aerial view melting icebergs crowd the Ilulissat Icefjord on July 16, 2024 near Ilulissat, Greenland.
Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Greenland authorities also recently approved a 30-year mining permit to a Danish-French mining group to exploit anorthosite, a rock rich in aluminum, at a site in western Greenland.
Separately, Eldur Olafsson, CEO of Greenland-focused mining company Amaroq, described Greenland as “an amazing country” to operate in.
“The geology is such that Greenland has traveled around the world through a geological time and gone everywhere — which means that it has an exposure to most mineral resources,” Olafsson told CNBC’s “Europe Early Edition” on Thursday.
“It has a fantastic jurisdiction in relation to regulation. It is based on Nordic principles and law,” he added.
A general view of a residential area of Nuuk, Greenland, on March 10, 2025, on the eve of a parliamentary election in Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory. Two days of storm and mild weather has ripped political posters of posts and melted snow in Greenland’s capital.
Odd Andersen | Afp | Getty Images
Asked how the prospect of the U.S. purchasing Greenland could impact the firm’s operations and outlook, Olafsson said Greenland’s destiny is for Greenlanders to choose.
“In the end, I think Greenland will become most likely an independent state, supported by the Nordic countries and supported by the U.S., just like Iceland was,” Olafsson said.
Learning from the past
Greenland’s Nathanielsen said the territory has “very high” environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, in part because of its previous issues with mining pollution.
“I think the people of Greenland really support the mining industry, which is quite kind of rare when you look at other jurisdictions. But they do so because they have faith in us having a high environmental standard and taking care of local communities,” Nathanielsen said.
“And if we start to fold on that, we will also lose the people’s support of this industry. For us it is really important. So, I think we have learned from the past,” she added.
GM sold over 21,000 electric vehicles in the US last month, its best yet. Despite the surge in August sales, GM warned that with the “irrational discounts” on EVs set to end soon, the market is due for a shake-up.
GM sells record EVs in August as irrational discounts end
August was GM’s best month ever for EV sales. The company sold over 21,000 electric models under the Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac brands last month.
The higher demand comes as buyers rush to secure the $7,500 federal tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of September.
Driven by the hot-selling Chevy Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and GMC Sierra EV, GM remains the second-best seller of EVs behind Tesla.
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GM expects to see strong demand again this month, but without the credit, it expects changes next quarter. GM said, “There’s no doubt we’ll see lower EV sales next quarter.” The company anticipates it will take several months for the market to correct, adding that “We will almost certainly see a smaller EV market for a while.”
Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)
Like several automakers in the US, GM will adjust production accordingly, promising not to overproduce. Despite slower sales, it remains confident that its EV market share will continue to grow.
Since affordable EVs and luxury models have been the strongest segments, GM believes it’s in a better position than most. It already has “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV,” the Chevy Equinox EV. The electric Equinox is one of the few EVs with a starting price under $35,000 in the US.
Cadillac Optiq EV (Source: Cadillac)
Soon, the new Chevy Bolt EV will debut, which is expected to be even more affordable, starting at around $30,000.
With a full line-up of electric SUVs, Cadillac is the leading luxury EV brand, but that doesn’t include Tesla. And then there’s the Chevy and GMC electric pickup with segment-leading range, features, and more.
2026 GMC Sierra EV (Source: GM)
GM said as it adjusts to the “new EV market realities,” its ICE vehicles will provide flexibility while driving profits. We will learn more on October 1 when GM reports full third-quarter sales results.
Although I wouldn’t call it “irrational,” GM is offering generous discounts on EVs with the deadline approaching. The Chevy Equinox EV is listed for lease starting at just $249 per month with a new $1,250 conquest bonus. Chevy is also offering the $7,500 credit on top of 0% APR financing until the end of September.
Thinking about trying one of GM’s EVs for yourself? You can use the links below to find Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC models in your area.
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Global solar installations are breaking records again in 2025. In H1 2025, the world added 380 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity – a staggering 64% jump compared to the same period in 2024, when 232 GW came online. China was responsible for installing a massive 256 GW of that solar capacity.
For context, it took until September last year to pass the 350 GW mark. This year, the milestone was achieved in June. That pace cements solar as the fastest-growing source of new electricity generation worldwide. In 2024, global solar output rose by 28% (+469 terawatt-hours) from 2023, more growth than any other energy source.
Nicolas Fulghum, senior energy analyst at independent energy think tank Ember, said, “These latest numbers on solar deployment in 2025 defy gravity, with annual solar installations continuing their sharp rise. In a world of volatile energy markets, solar offers domestically produced power that can be rolled out at record speed to meet growing demand, independent of global fossil fuel supply chains.”
China’s solar dominance
China is leading this surge by a wide margin. In the first half of 2025, the country installed more than twice as much solar capacity as the rest of the world combined, accounting for 67% of global additions. That’s up from 54% in the same period last year. Developers rushed to complete projects before new wind and solar compensation rules took effect in June, fueling the spike. While that may lead to a slowdown in the second half of the year, new clean power procurement requirements for industry and bullish forecasts from China’s solar PV association (CPIA) suggest that 2025 will still surpass 2024’s record high.
The rest of the world
Other countries are adding solar at a healthy clip, too. Together, they installed an estimated 124 GW in the first half of 2025, a 15% year-over-year increase. India came in second with 24 GW, up 49% from last year’s 16 GW. The US ranked third with 21 GW, a 4% gain year-over-year despite recent moves by the Trump administration to suppress clean power deployment. Germany and Brazil saw slight dips, while the rest of the world added 65 GW, a 22% rise over 2024.
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Africa’s solar market is also stirring. The continent imported 60% more solar panels from China over the past year, though a lack of reliable installation data makes it a challenge to track the true pace of deployment.
With installations surging across major markets and China driving the charge, 2025 is on track to be another record-breaking year for solar power.
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Porsche just axed two of its most iconic models. The gas-powered 718 Cayman and Boxster sports cars have been discontinued, with their new EV successors set to debut next year. However, Porsche isn’t the only brand killing off a popular nameplate.
Sports cars are due for EV successors in 2026
As it prepares for the all-electric replacements, Porsche has stopped taking new orders for the 718 Cayman and Boxster. For now, you can still order the vehicles from stock.
We’ve known for years that an electric replacement was on the way for the 718 lineup. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume confirmed in 2022 that the electric 718 successor would follow the Taycan and Macan EVs.
Although the new Cayman and Boxster EVs were expected to launch by the end of this year, it was pushed back due to software and battery sourcing delays.
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Porsche initially planned to build the EV versions alongside the current ICE models at its Zuffenhausen plant, but that will no longer be the case. Despite rumors that Porsche was planning to extend 718 production, “high-ranking Porsche sources” told Autocar that’s not the plan.
Porsche 718 Boxster (Source: Porsche)
The luxury sports car maker has dialed back its EV plans recently, with ICE Macan and Cayenne models now due to be sold alongside the electric versions.
Meanwhile, Porsche isn’t the only sports car maker killing off models with new EV successors on the way. Audi confirmed with Autoblog that the A7 and S7 will be discontinued after the 2025 model year.
2025 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron (Source: Audi)
In a statement, Audi said, “There are no 2026 Model Year A7 or S7 being offered as production shifts to the new A6 TFSI coming later this year.” However, the RS7 will live on as a 2026MY. The ICE A7 will be rebranded as the A6 TFSI, while the EV version will retain the A6 E-tron name, featuring a similar sportback design to the outgoing model.
Porsche and Audi have leaned into a more flexible “multi-energy” strategy, blaming slowing EV sales and a changing market.