In a budget agreement between the governing Labour Party and four cooperating parties, Norway has put plans for deep-sea mining, including exploration or extraction of minerals in the Arctic Sea, aside until 2029.
“This decision is a historic victory. Norwegian politicians decided to listen to scientific expertise and to the strong public demand to protect the vulnerable deep-sea environment, rather than being swayed by the mining lobby,” says Karoline Andaur, CEO of WWF-Norway.
The decision followed intense battle over the budget between Labour, the Socialist Left Party, the Green Party, the Red Party, and the Centre Party. In January 2024, Norway had been the only European country to propose beginning deep-sea mining, a decision that was reversed a year ago in the wake of another budget battle.
As noted by WWF-Norway, a large number of international and domestic experts, including the Norwegian Environment Agency and the Institute of Marine Research have highlighted the vast knowledge gaps regarding deep-sea ecosystems and the potentially irreversible consequences of seabed mining. The Environment Agency has concluded that it is neither environmentally responsible nor legally defensible to move forward with exploration or extraction.
To date, 40 countries have taken a clear stance against the industry, and the European Parliament has called for a moratorium. The European Investment Bank has excluded seabed minerals from all financing, while the European Commission is calling for a ban until it can be proven that mining will not harm the marine environment. They are joined by more than 60 major companies, including Google, BMW and Storebrand, and nearly 1,000 marine scientists from 70 countries who also warn against opening the deep sea to mining.
WWF said the parties have agreed to put together a Transition Commission that will explore the transition of Norwegian economy away from fossil fuels – a major step towards the last chapter of Norwegian oil and gas industry. But no further progress has been made to limit new licensing on oil and gas. However the parties have agreed to have experts, unions and civil society give their opinion and explore the route towards Norway’s fossil fuel transition.
