WWF Sues Norway For Opening Its Seabed For Deep-Sea Mining Without Assessing Consequences

One of the largest environmental groups in the world is suing Norway’s government for opening up the seabed for deep-sea mining.

The group states that Norway has failed to investigate the probable impacts of such a move.

WWF Norway states that the government’s decision has violated Norwegian law, is against the counsel of its advisers, and simultaneously sets a “dangerous precedent”.

As Karoline Andaur, WWF Norway’s CEO, mentioned, the organisation strongly believes the government is violating Norwegian law by opening up to a potentially destructive industry without assessing its consequences.

It will be a dangerous precedent if they permit the government to ignore its rules, override ecological advice, and manage common natural resources unquestioningly.

In January this year, Norway became the first nation in the world to permit commercial deep-sea mining after parliamentary approval.

This came through despite warnings from several scientists of “catastrophic” effects on marine life and the evolving opposition from the UK and the EU, which are supporting a temporary ban on ecological grounds.

The proposal, which revolves around Norwegian waters in the Arctic region, will expose 280,000 sq km—greater than Britain’s.

Mining the deep sea encompasses the extraction of minerals and metals from the seabed.

This activity is being pursued because of its use in the transition to green energy, especially electric car batteries.

WWF Norway stated that the assessment shared by Norway’s energy ministry, which underpins the government’s decision to move forward with deep-sea mining, fails to satisfy the minimum demands of the Seabed Minerals Act and has no legal basis.

The Norwegian Environment Agency advises the government that the impact assessment doesn’t provide an adequate scientific or legal basis for deep-sea mining.

Commenting about the lawsuit, Astrid Bergmål, the state secretary at the Ministry of Energy, mentioned that they believe a thorough process was carried out with broad involvement and that the appropriate requirements were followed.

He added that WWF desires to try this case in court and has the right to do so.

At this time, there is no further comment on him regarding the lawsuit.

Last year, a Norwegian study found a “substantial” amount of metals and minerals on its seabed.

In February 2024, the European Parliament expressed its concerns over Norway’s decisions to open up Arctic areas for deep-sea mining and called on the member states, including the International Seabed Authority, to support a moratorium.

The authorities will likely meet later in the year to ratify the rules on mining in the international waters.

So far, 25 nations, including Germany, Spain, France, Palau, Sweden, and Mexico, have requested a pause, moratorium or a ban on the mineral extraction of the seabed.

Reference: Guardian

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