European resolution against deep sea mining
The European Parliament backs conservationists' demands.
In a vote on February 7, 2024, the EU Parliament opposed Norway's plans for deep-sea mining in the Arctic. Scientists and nature conservation organizations warn of the enormous and incalculable risks that deep-sea mineral extraction poses to marine ecosystems, fish stocks and the ocean's carbon cycle.
On 9 January 2024, the Norwegian government decided to open up 281,000 square kilometers of Arctic waters to deep-sea mining - an area almost the size of Italy. The EU Parliament's resolution represents a rather unusual approach towards a close partner and can therefore be seen as a sign of strong concern about Norway's decision.
In the text of the resolution, the EU Parliament reiterates its call for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining and appeals to the EU Commission, the EU Member States and all other countries to support this demand. So far, 24 countries worldwide, including 7 EU countries (Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden), are calling for a moratorium or a precautionary pause until the consequences of deep-sea mining have been sufficiently researched.
Read on the background here. And listen to my podcast with Arlo Hemphill from Greenpeace USA here.