“WWF-Norway Takes Legal Action Against Norwegian Government for Deep-Sea Mining”
The Norway chapter of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Norway) has taken legal action against the Norwegian government for allowing mining of its seabed without proper investigation of the negative impacts. The lawsuit claims that the decision to proceed with deep-sea mining breaches Norwegian law and sets a dangerous precedent.
WWF-Norway CEO Karoline Andaur stated that they had hoped the notice of a lawsuit would prompt the government to reconsider its decision, but since that did not happen, they see no other option but to proceed with legal action. The nonprofit believes that the government lacks adequate knowledge about the marine environment in the deep sea to assess the consequences of exploration and exploitation properly.
In January 2024, Norway approved commercial deep-sea mining after a government-commissioned study concluded that it would have minimal impact. This decision has been met with criticism from environmental activists and other countries, with concerns raised about the catastrophic consequences for marine ecosystems.
The proposal would expose over 100,000 square miles of sensitive Arctic waters to deep-sea excavation, despite warnings of the potential harm to marine life. Deep-sea mining involves extracting minerals and metals from the seabed for use in the transition away from fossil fuels.
More than two dozen countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Mexico, Palau, and Sweden, have called for a pause, ban, or moratorium on deep-sea mining. The International Seabed Authority is expected to meet later this year to ratify regulations on deep-sea mining in international waters.
WWF-Norway’s lawyer stated that a court hearing could start within the next six months. The environmental organization believes that the state is violating Norwegian law by opening up a potentially destructive industry without adequately investigating the consequences.
The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for the future of deep-sea mining in Norway and potentially set a precedent for other countries considering similar actions. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.