The global demand for metals is dramatically surging as global efforts increase to transition to renewable energy and with the electrification of society. The mining industry is heavily criticized for its harmful consequences for the environment, local populations and indigenous communities. The rising demand for renewable energy metals to reduce emissions while also safeguarding the environment and human societies from harm caused by mining pose an environmental dilemma. The Swedish mining industry, with significant metal resources in the bedrock, is aiming to be at the forefront of ‘sustainable’ mining, while environmental organizations, local populations and activists oppose major mining project in Sweden. Understanding the various perceptions from key interest groups is important to understand the foundation of this dilemma. These perceptions may be influential to decision making and responses to the dilemma, affecting both the trajectory of Swedish mining, national metals supply, and future protection of environment and human societies. This thesis uses the methods of semi-structured interviews and frame analysis to examine how interest groups perceive the environmental mining dilemma in the context of Sweden. Identifying two contradicting frames based on fundamentally different environmental values – the dominant societal and the deep ecological – illuminates the foundation based on which interest groups define the problem, argue for which actions should be taken, resonate on self-protection, justification of positions and how to influence others. Beyond the empirical case, the results of this thesis contribute to theoretical knowledge on how perceptions and framing influence the formation of environmental disputes.