Even after strong opposition from the AUF and the Greens in the party, the Labor Party decided to allow mining on the seabed. And that despite the fact that both researchers and a collective environmental movement have called out warnings. We risk great destruction in vulnerable seas. Then it doesn’t help that the party sweetens the pill with fancy words about environmental concerns. All the knowledge we now have shows that it is irresponsible to start mining on the seabed. Now the Labor Party and the government must listen to those who actually know what they are talking about. The disappointing decision at the national meeting did not come as a complete surprise. In October, the government put an impact assessment out for consultation. There they proposed to open an ocean area corresponding to 85 percent of Norway’s land area for mining. Both the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Environment Agency are crystal clear: There is insufficient knowledge to assess opening. It is easy to believe that the environmental movement loves batteries but hates mines. Let me clarify: We are against old-fashioned dumping of mining waste in vulnerable fjords, not mining itself. We are against starting mining on the seabed when the knowledge base is insufficient, the consequences enormous and the process miserable. Of course we need minerals, but if we make the right choices now, we can reduce the need for minerals by 58 percent by 2050. This can be covered by minerals from land. Even Equinor is not interested in seabed minerals. They believe that more knowledge is needed about the consequences for the environment. That should tell you something. It is not often that the environmental movement and oil companies agree. Dead zones along the coast No other country engages in commercial mining on the seabed. But Norway is no stranger to maritime hostile mining. After all, we are one of two countries in the world that still allows landfill. We risk destroying the unique nature of the sea, with major consequences for the climate, nature, fisheries and other marine industries. Mining can create complete dead zones along the coast and cut the throat of our marine industries. We cannot take that risk. Norway has undertaken to manage our natural assets based on available knowledge and according to the precautionary principle. The hunt for seabed minerals is incompatible with this. If we are to preserve jobs in fisheries and farming and secure these industries into the future, we are in bad shape if we poison the oceans. In the sea, it is not that far from what happens in the deep sea to the coastal industries that provide both food and income that we all depend on. All the consultation responses from research and administrative environments point out that the consequences are far too poorly elucidated, and that there are significant gaps in knowledge. The Norwegian Environment Agency writes in its consultation response that the research “… does not provide a decision-making basis for opening up mineral extraction at sea.” The Geological Survey of Norway writes that the figures for mineral resources contain many errors, and that the socio-economic profitability is greatly overestimated. So if facts are really to have power, the Labor Party and the government must listen to science and base their decisions on research. A hasty decision can have environmental consequences that are impossible to correct afterwards. Lack of market We need a green shift now, not in 20 years. It is far more prudent to invest in technology we already have, which we know works, and not least, which we know the consequences of. We don’t actually need seabed minerals to carry out the green shift. This was determined by a report from the UN Ocean Panel. On the contrary, they believe that mining on the seabed can be in direct conflict with the UN’s sustainability goals. Several countries in the UN Ocean Panel, including Germany, New Zealand and Chile, have asked the world to press the pause button. France has put forward proposals for a total ban on mining on the seabed, both in international and in its own waters. The World Economic Forum also concluded in its report on seabed mining that there were far too large gaps in knowledge to make a sound decision. Key players such as Microsoft, Google, BMW and banks such as Natwest, Tridos Bank and Storebrand want a global postponement to gather knowledge, and are clear that they will not use or finance seabed minerals. For climate and environmental reasons, the European Investment Bank has excluded mining on the seabed from its investments. So then the question becomes: Who does the government intend to sell these seabed minerals to? Are we really going to waste billions in pursuit of golden eggs we can’t even sell, and at the same time suffocate our other industries? In the midst of fine words about sustainable seas and green investment – does Norway have its feet on the ground or its head under water? Put knowledge ahead of the desire for profit. No mining on the seabed!
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Save the sea from the Labor Party – Statement
