Oslo, Norway – The newly elected Norwegian government[1] today ruled out deep sea mining licenses in Arctic waters until at least the end of 2029. The agreement to stop all 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. 

Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, Deep Sea Mining Campaigner, Greenpeace Nordic said:
“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.”

Norway will also cut all public funding for government-led mineral mapping, marking a major shift in its stance on deep-sea mining. Once one of the mining industry’s strongest proponents, the Norwegian government is now moving to halt both exploration and exploitation in its own waters.

The decision is another blow to a deep sea mining industry whose viability has come under repeated strain before even going into business. In November, Cook Islands authorities announced deep sea mining applications in the Pacific nation’s waters would be subject to five year extensions, delaying mining in the region until at least 2032.

Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle added: “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.”

Louisa Casson, Deep Sea Mining Campaigner, Greenpeace International said: “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.”

ENDS 

Notes:

Photos and Video can be found in Greenpeace Media Library

The full list of countries calling for a moratorium

[1] The former government parties agreed to stop the first licensing round for deep sea mining in the Arctic after an international campaign and budget negotiations with Norway’s Socialist Left party in 2024. Since then, Norway has formed a new government, and after hard negotiations from green opposition parties (the Reds, the Socialist Left Party, and the Green Party) it was clear that the pause will continue for at least another four years, a move towards ending the industry in Norway.

Contacts: 

Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, Deep Sea Mining Campaigner, Greenpeace Nordic: [email protected], +47 93 47 32 13

Jenny Baksaas, Press Officer, Greenpeace Nordic:
[email protected], +47 93 22 57 53

Sol Gosetti, Global Media Coordinator, Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign, Greenpeace International: [email protected], WhatsApp +44 (0) 7380845754

Greenpeace International Press Desk: [email protected], +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)