Environmental groups cheered on Sunday as Norway’s controversial plans to advance deep-sea mining in the fragile Arctic Ocean were frozen.
The suspension was won by the small Socialist Left (SV) party in Norway’s parliament in exchange for support in passing the government’s 2025 budget.
“Today marks a monumental victory for the oceans, with Norway’s SV party blocking a controversial plan to issue deep-sea mining licenses for the country’s extended continental shelf in the Arctic. It was a success,” said Steve Trent, CEO and founder of the environmental justice organization. The foundation said in a statement: “This decision is a testament to the power of principled and courageous political action, and a moment to celebrate for environmentalists, marine ecosystems, and future generations alike.”
“Today, thanks to the SV Party and all the people around the world who spoke out against this decision, the sea has won a victory. Let’s now ensure that this victory lasts.”
Norway sparked outrage in January when parliament passed a resolution allowing deep-sea mining exploration in more Arctic waters than the UK. Scientists have warned that mining the Arctic seafloor could disrupt the unique hydrothermal vent ecosystem and even drive species to extinction before scientists can study them. It would also put added pressure on all levels of Arctic life, from plankton to marine mammals, which are already feeling the effects of rising temperatures and ocean acidification from burning fossil fuels.
“The Arctic Ocean is one of the last unexplored frontiers on Earth, and its fragile ecosystem is already under great stress from the climate crisis,” Trent said. “The idea of exposing these areas to destructive and unnecessary deep-sea mining was a serious threat, not only to the marine life that depends on the deep sea, but also to global society as a whole.”
“Thankfully, this short-sighted and harmful plan has been halted, marking a clear victory in the ongoing fight to protect Earth’s blue, beating heart,” Trent continued.
In June, Norway announced it would grant its first exploration mining licenses in early 2025. However, this is on hold due to an agreement with the SV party.
“This means that plans to start deep-sea mining will be suspended until the end of this government’s term,” party leader Kirsti Bergst said, as reported by the Guardian.
Norway’s next parliamentary elections will be held in September 2025, so no licenses will be approved until then.
The move comes amid growing opposition to deep-sea mining in Norway and abroad. A total of 32 countries and 911 marine scientists are calling for a global moratorium on this practice. More than 100 EU parliamentarians wrote a letter specifically opposing Norway’s plan, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) filed a lawsuit seeking to block it.
“This is a big and important environmental victory!” Karoline Andaur, CEO of WWF Norway, said in a statement. “SV has halted the process of deep seabed mining, giving Norway a unique opportunity to protect its international maritime reputation and gain the necessary knowledge before considering mining the last unspoiled natural habitat on Earth.”
Greenpeace Nordic deep-sea mining activist Haldis Gjeldfrat Helle called the decision a “huge victory.”
“Thanks to the hard work of activists, environmentalists, scientists and fishermen, we have achieved a historic victory for marine conservation by halting the process of starting deep-sea mining in Norway,” Helle said in a statement. said. “A wave of protests against deep-sea mining is growing. We will not allow this industry to destroy the unique life of the deep sea, in the Arctic or elsewhere.”
However, Norway’s Arctic Ocean is still not completely safe.
“This will be postponed,” Labor Prime Minister Jonas Gare Store told TV2 on Sunday.
The government said other work would proceed, including drafting regulations and conducting environmental impact studies to begin the process of deep-sea mining. Norway is currently ruled by the Labor Party and the Centrist Party. According to Reuters, the two parties leading in opinion polls for September’s election, the Conservative Party and the Progressive Party, also support deep-sea mining.
“If the new government tries to restart the approval round, we will oppose it relentlessly,” Greenpeace Norway director Frode Plaem told Reuters.
Other environmental groups tempered the celebrations with calls for more action.
“Today is a day of celebration, but this victory should not be seen as the end of the struggle,” said Trent of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
“We call on the Norwegian government and all responsible global stakeholders to make this victory permanent by enacting protections for the Arctic Ocean and its ecosystem into law and supporting a moratorium or ban on deep-sea mining. I urge you to make it a reality,” Trent added. . “It is only through a collective commitment to ocean sustainability and long-term management that we can ensure the health of our marine environment for generations to come.”
Trent concluded: “Today, thanks to the SV Party and all the people around the world who spoke out against this decision, the sea has won. Let’s make sure this victory continues.”
WWF’s Andaur said this was a “pivotal moment” for Norway to “demonstrate global leadership by prioritizing the health of our oceans over destructive industries”.
WWF called on Norway to abandon its drilling plans and to reconsider offshore exploitation for oil and gas.
“Unfortunately, we have not seen similar efforts to rein in the Norwegian oil industry, which has yet to obtain new permits to operate in Norwegian waters, including highly vulnerable areas of the Arctic. “We are in the process of doing so,” Andahl said. “Norway needs to find new ways to make money without extracting fossil fuels or destroying nature.”
Greenpeace also noted the role Norway’s moratorium plays in reinforcing global opposition to deep-sea mining.
“Millions of people around the world are calling on governments to resist the dire threat of deep-sea mining to protect the world’s oceans,” said Luisa Greenpeace International’s anti-deep-sea mining campaigner. Casson said. “This is a huge step forward for Arctic protection and now is the time for Norway to join the more than 30 countries calling for a moratorium and become a true ocean champion.”
