The new Norwegian government has agreed to stop all deep sea mining plans in the Arctic until the end of 2029. Mining company warns this will be the death of the industry in Norway.
“Deep sea mining in Norway has once again been successfully stopped. We will not let this industry destroy the unique life in the deep sea, not in the Arctic nor anywhere else”, says Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, deep sea mining campaigner at Greenpeace Nordic.
The agreement to stop all plans of exploration and exploitation of deep sea minerals was confirmed after pressure from the environmental movement and hard negotiations from the green opposition parties in Norway. In addition to stopping the plans, Norway cuts all funding for governmental mineral mapping. The decision marks a huge shift in Norway’s position on deep sea mining, going from being one of the strongest proponents of the industry, to saying no both exploration and exploitation in their own waters.
It was after a big international campaign and budget negotiations with the Socialist Left party in 2024, that the former government parties agreed to stop the first licensing round for deep sea mining in the Arctic. Since then, Norway has gotten a new government, and after hard negotiations from the green opposition parties (the Reds, the Socialist Left Party, and the Green Party) it was clear that the stop will continue for at least another four years.
The environmental movement hopes the industry is right in their claims that this may end the industry in Norway.
“This must be the nail in the coffin for the deep sea mining industry in Norway. Any government that is committed to sustainable ocean management cannot support deep sea mining. Now Norway must step up and become a real ocean leader, join the call for a global moratorium against deep sea mining, and bring forward a proposal of real protection for the Arctic deep sea, says Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle.
”Millions of people across the world are calling on governments to resist the dire threat of deep sea mining to safeguard oceans worldwide. This is yet another huge step forward to protect the Arctic, and now it is time for Norway to join over 40 countries calling for a moratorium and be a true ocean champion,” said Greenpeace International Stop Deep Sea Mining campaigner Louisa Casson.
Photos and video for press in Greenpeace media library here
Contacts:
Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, deep sea mining campaigner, Greenpeace Nordic: [email protected], +47 93 47 32 13
Jenny Baksaas, press contact, Greenpeace Nordic:
[email protected], +47 93 22 57 53
