Norway approves deep sea mining despite international pushback
By Jack Aylmer (Reporter/Producer), Zachary Hill (Editor)
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Norway set to approve deep-sea mining despite environmental concerns
Click to see story on The GuardianNorway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining
Click to see story on CNNRohstoffe und Umweltschutz: Norwegen erlaubt Tiefseebergbau
Click to see story on Sueddeutsche ZeitungMinerals on the seabed: Norwegian Parliament votes for controversial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on Zeit OnlineDespite massive opposition, Norway could be the first country to exploit mineral resources from its seabed
Click to see story on Le MondeIn the Arctic Sea: Norwegian Parliament votes for controversial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on SpiegelNorway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining
Click to see story on Saudi GazetteNorway’s parliament greenlights controversial deep-sea mining exploration
Click to see story on The Local – NoDeep-sea mining: Norway approves controversial practice
Click to see story on BBC NewsNorway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining
Click to see story on KIFINorway poised to open vast ocean area to controversial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on CNBCAnger as Norway set to approve commercial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on The TimesNorway greenlights deep-sea mining exploration
Click to see story on Phys.orgNorway parliament votes in favour of seabed mining, as expected
Click to see story on WTVBNorwegian Parliament gives permission to search for mineral resources from the seabed
Click to see story on Eesti RahvusringhäälingNorway Greenlights Deep-sea Mining Exploration
Click to see story on Barron'sNorway to approve commercial deep-sea mining in world first
Click to see story on The TelegraphNorway parliament votes in favour of seabed mining, as expected
Click to see story on The Straits TimesLe Parlement norvégien donne son feu vert à la prospection minière des fonds marins
Click to see story on Le Figaro“A shame”: Norwegian parliament gives green light to controversial seafloor mining
Click to see story on Het Laatste NieuwsNoruega da luz verde a la polémica minería submarina en el océano Ártico
Click to see story on abcNorway says yes to mining in the deep sea
Click to see story on Dagens Nyheter.Norway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on berlingske.dkRight
Untracked Bias
Parlamento da Noruega libera exploração de minérios em alto mar
Click to see story on GloboNorway votes in favour of seabed mining
Click to see story on Otago Daily TimesNorwegian parliament approves plans for controversial seafloor mining
Click to see story on Het Belang van LimburgNoors parlement keurt plannen voor omstreden mijnbouw op zeebodem goed
Click to see story on Het NieuwsbladNorway wants to allow deep-sea mining
Click to see story on ORF.at NewsParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on NRK“A shame”: Norway opens its seabed to mineral exploration, scientists and NGOs rise up
Click to see story on Sud OuestNorway authorizes deepwater mining
Click to see story on Brasil 247Norway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on Ekstra BladetNorway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on PolitikenParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on VGLa Norvegia ha approvato una legge che permetterà la controversa pratica dell’estrazione mineraria dai fondali marini
Click to see story on Il PostParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on E24Norway approved mining exploration of its seabed
Click to see story on El ObservadorNorwegian parliament approves controversial plan for deep sea mining
Click to see story on rd.nlNorveška uvodi kontroverznu praksu rudarenja u morskim dubinama. Sad ih prozivaju za licemjerstvo
Click to see story on Telegram.hrNorway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on Kristeligt DagbladNorveški parlament odobrio rudarenje morskog dna
Click to see story on n1info.rsNorveški parlament odobrio rudarenje morskog dna
Click to see story on vijesti.meParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on bt.noNorway would mine mineral resources on the Arctic seabed
Click to see story on Portfolio.huNorway Parliament Votes in favor of Seabed Mining
Click to see story on marinelink.comDeep sea mining advocates say metals found at the bottom of the ocean are key to facilitating a global transition away from fossil fuels, while scientists have warned the full effects of this practice on surrounding ecosystems have yet to be determined. Still, one nation is plunging ahead, as Norway has become one of the first countries in the world to approve deep sea mining.
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“We need minerals to succeed with the green transition,” said Terje Aasland, Norway’s minister for petroleum and energy. “I strongly believe that our seabed mineral resources can be extracted sustainably and responsibly.”
The Nordic nation passed a bill this week that will open up an area of Norwegian waters larger than the size of the United Kingdom for commercial-scale operations. The bill gives companies the ability to submit proposals for deep-sea mining licenses that will be voted on through a case-by-case basis in Norway’s parliament.
Those prospective miners are after rocks on the seabed known as nodules, which contain critical minerals used to build sustainable energy sources like electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and solar panels.
“The renewable green industries run on minerals. This is an important contribution internationally,” Norwegian MP Bård Ludvig Thorheim said.
The resources found in these waters are estimated to be worth about $100 billion and will create around 20,000 new jobs, according to an independent study by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Norway’s government has said that deep-sea mining could be a good thing for all of Europe, helping reduce the continent’s reliance on China for its critical mineral supply. Europe currently imports nearly 90 percent of its rare earth metals from Beijing-controlled entities.
Many within the European Union (EU) believe any benefits will come with major risks. In November 2023, 120 EU lawmakers wrote an open letter calling on the Norwegian parliament to reject deep-sea mining because of “the risk of such activity to marine biodiversity and the acceleration of climate change.”
“In the midst of the environmental and climate crisis, the Norwegian government’s decision to start mining in the ocean’s fragile ecosystems would be reckless,” the group of EU lawmakers wrote. “As European parliamentarians we are deeply concerned by our close ally pushing forward this destructive industry, rather than joining the EU in the transition to a circular economy.”
The letter also criticized the country’s environmental impact assessment, saying it had too many “knowledge gaps.” These claims of insufficient studies on the topic were echoed by the Norway Institute of Marine Research, which estimates five to 10 years of additional analysis is still needed.
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Elsewhere, other experts in the field are pushing back, too, with more than 800 experts from 44 different countries signing a statement calling for a global pause on deep-sea mining. The Environmental Justice Foundation said the decision to allow it would serve as “an irrevocable black mark on Norway’s reputation as a responsible ocean state.”
[JACK AYLMER]
COULD DEEP SEA MINING BE THE KEY TO A GLOBAL TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, OR WILL ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS CREATE MORE HARM THAN GOOD?
THAT’S THE INTERNATIONAL DEBATE PLAYING OUT NOW, WITH ADVOCATES SAYING THE METALS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN ARE CRITICAL FOR BUILDING RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE SCIENTISTS WARN THE FULL EFFECTS OF THIS PRACTICE ON SURROUNDING ECOSYSTEMS HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
ONE NATION JUST MADE IT CLEAR THE ARGUMENT CAN CONTINUE WHILE IT PLUNGES AHEAD.
NORWAY HAS BECOME ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TO APPROVE DEEP-SEA MINING.
THE COUNTRY PASSED A BILL THIS WEEK THAT OPENS UP AN AREA OF NORWEGIAN WATERS LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR COMMERCIAL-SCALE OPERATIONS.
THE NEW RULES GIVE COMPANIES THE ABILITY TO SUBMIT CASE-BY-CASE PROPOSALS TO NORWAY’S PARLIAMENT FOR DEEP-SEA MINING LICENSES.
THOSE PROSPECTIVE MINERS ARE AFTER ROCKS ON THE SEABED KNOWN AS NODULES, WHICH CONTAIN CRITICAL MINERALS USED TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOURCES. THEIR COLLECTIVE VALUE — ABOUT $100 BILLION.
NOT TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW JOBS THESE RESOURCES COULD CREATE: ROUGHLY 20,000 ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT STUDY
NORWAY’S GOVERNMENT SAYS DEEP MINING COULD BE GOOD FOR ALL OF EUROPE,
CITING THE CONTINENT’S OVER-RELIANCE ON CHINA FOR ITS SUPPLY OF CRITICAL MINERALS.
EUROPE CURRENTLY IMPORTS NEARLY 90% OF ITS RARE EARTH METALS FROM BEIJING-CONTROLLED ENTITIES.
HOWEVER, MANY WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION BELIEVE ANY BENEFITS WILL COME WITH MAJOR RISKS.
LAST FALL, 120 EU LAWMAKERS WROTE AN OPEN LETTER CALLING ON NORWAY TO REJECT DEEP-SEA MINING BECAUSE IT MAY ACCELERATE CLIMATE CHANGE AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT MARINE BIODIVERSITY.
THE LETTER ALSO CRITICIZED THE COUNTRY’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT, SAYING IT HAD TOO MANY KNOWLEDGE GAPS, CLAIMS ECHOED BY THE NORWAY INSTITUTE OF MARINE RESEARCH.
OTHER EXPERTS IN THE FIELD ARE PUSHING BACK TOO, WITH MORE THAN 800 FROM 44 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES SIGNING A STATEMENT THAT CALLS FOR A GLOBAL PAUSE ON DEEP SEA MINING.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Norway set to approve deep-sea mining despite environmental concerns
Click to see story on The GuardianNorway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining
Click to see story on CNNRohstoffe und Umweltschutz: Norwegen erlaubt Tiefseebergbau
Click to see story on Sueddeutsche ZeitungMinerals on the seabed: Norwegian Parliament votes for controversial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on Zeit OnlineDespite massive opposition, Norway could be the first country to exploit mineral resources from its seabed
Click to see story on Le MondeIn the Arctic Sea: Norwegian Parliament votes for controversial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on SpiegelNorway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining
Click to see story on Saudi GazetteNorway’s parliament greenlights controversial deep-sea mining exploration
Click to see story on The Local – NoDeep-sea mining: Norway approves controversial practice
Click to see story on BBC NewsNorway parliament approves highly controversial deep sea mining
Click to see story on KIFINorway poised to open vast ocean area to controversial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on CNBCAnger as Norway set to approve commercial deep-sea mining
Click to see story on The TimesNorway greenlights deep-sea mining exploration
Click to see story on Phys.orgNorway parliament votes in favour of seabed mining, as expected
Click to see story on WTVBNorwegian Parliament gives permission to search for mineral resources from the seabed
Click to see story on Eesti RahvusringhäälingNorway Greenlights Deep-sea Mining Exploration
Click to see story on Barron'sNorway to approve commercial deep-sea mining in world first
Click to see story on The TelegraphNorway parliament votes in favour of seabed mining, as expected
Click to see story on The Straits TimesLe Parlement norvégien donne son feu vert à la prospection minière des fonds marins
Click to see story on Le Figaro“A shame”: Norwegian parliament gives green light to controversial seafloor mining
Click to see story on Het Laatste NieuwsNoruega da luz verde a la polémica minería submarina en el océano Ártico
Click to see story on abcNorway says yes to mining in the deep sea
Click to see story on Dagens Nyheter.Norway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on berlingske.dkRight
Untracked Bias
Parlamento da Noruega libera exploração de minérios em alto mar
Click to see story on GloboNorway votes in favour of seabed mining
Click to see story on Otago Daily TimesNorwegian parliament approves plans for controversial seafloor mining
Click to see story on Het Belang van LimburgNoors parlement keurt plannen voor omstreden mijnbouw op zeebodem goed
Click to see story on Het NieuwsbladNorway wants to allow deep-sea mining
Click to see story on ORF.at NewsParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on NRK“A shame”: Norway opens its seabed to mineral exploration, scientists and NGOs rise up
Click to see story on Sud OuestNorway authorizes deepwater mining
Click to see story on Brasil 247Norway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on Ekstra BladetNorway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on PolitikenParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on VGLa Norvegia ha approvato una legge che permetterà la controversa pratica dell’estrazione mineraria dai fondali marini
Click to see story on Il PostParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on E24Norway approved mining exploration of its seabed
Click to see story on El ObservadorNorwegian parliament approves controversial plan for deep sea mining
Click to see story on rd.nlNorveška uvodi kontroverznu praksu rudarenja u morskim dubinama. Sad ih prozivaju za licemjerstvo
Click to see story on Telegram.hrNorway’s Storting Gives Green Light to Deep-Sea Floor Mining
Click to see story on Kristeligt DagbladNorveški parlament odobrio rudarenje morskog dna
Click to see story on n1info.rsNorveški parlament odobrio rudarenje morskog dna
Click to see story on vijesti.meParliament approves contentious deep-sea mining
Click to see story on bt.noNorway would mine mineral resources on the Arctic seabed
Click to see story on Portfolio.huNorway Parliament Votes in favor of Seabed Mining
Click to see story on marinelink.comStraight to your inbox.
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