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Green Transition: at Whose Cost? A National Geographic project on green industry and Sami life in Arctic Sweden. By Justin Jin

We often say fossil fuels are bad, green energy is good. But reality is far more complex. With support from a National Geographic grant, this project by Natgeo Explorer Justin Jin investigates how the Sami people of Arctic Sweden are navigating the rapid expansion of fossil-free steel, critical mineral mining, and renewable energy. Through powerful photography and storytelling, Justin uncovers both the challenges and potential paths for co-existence between clean industry and Indigenous people.

Green Steel, a Planetary Solution

The HyBrit pilot plant produces the world’s first fossil free steel by using green hydrogen instead of coal.

Recently, Justin created a book for the hydrogen industry celebrating the marvel of green technology, including Sweden’s green steel revolution. The work won international awards, including the prestigious Pictures of the Year International (USA), and played a key role in making the case for the green transition.

Inside, red iron oxide meets green hydrogen, producing pure iron on the left

But while visiting the sites, Justin realized there was another story to tell—the impact on local communities, particularly Indigenous Sami herders, as their land is industrialized for clean energy. The people with the smallest carbon footprints are being asked to bear the cost of reducing the world’s emissions.

To tell the full story, Justin is seeking the support of Non-Profit Organizations and Philanthropic Foundations. The initial production of this story is funded by National Geographic Society, whose mission is to "illuminate and protect the wonder of the world".

While LKAB, the mining partner of HyBrit, shows off their clean mining, Justin saw a harsh truth: their drills are scaring the earth
Above the LKAB mine, a sinkhole forces the town to move, encroaching on land used by the Sami indigenous people .

The Other Side: the Sami Indigenous Community

Fifty iron ore trains roar past s Sami herder’s home daily, cutting reindeer migration routes
Reindeer, which are semi-wild animals, are herded across hundreds of kilometers and sorted here for pasture — a tradition etched into the Arctic landscape.
Herding is central to the Sami, whose ancestors roamed the lapland all the way to Russia
Indigenous people are often seen as stewards of the land. The loss of their heritage is everyone’s loss
In the harsh Arctic, this dead calf highlights how climate change, mining, and logging disrupt feeding, threatening fragile reindeer herds.
The final image captures reindeer marching past the city mine, toxic smoke rising into the night. The burden falls on us: it’s our endless consumption that pushes nations to exploit the Earth’s last frontiers. Whether we call an industry green or not, we are still taking. The real question is, how much more are we willing to destroy?

Bridging Conflict, Creating Impact

Justin presenting his work-in-progress to the National Geographic Society and fellow Explorers. Photo by National Geographic photographer Mark Thiessen.

This project seeks to reconcile the tensions between the green transition industry—and extractive industries as a whole—and the Indigenous Sami community through public discourse and storytelling. It operates on three levels: 1) Local Engagement – Exhibitions led by Sami communities. 2) Policy Influence – Exhibitions and panel discussions in Brussels and Stockholm. 3) Global Reach – Media distribution, including potential placement in National Geographic Magazine.

Justin is actively expanding this initiative to address the impact of mining on Indigenous lands worldwide, particularly in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, and is seeking sponsorship to scale this work.

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