Seven companies have applied to develop offshore wind in the very south of the North Sea, called Sørlige Nordsjø II. But we don’t know what life there is. Nature and the environment have not yet been mapped. This causes parliamentary representatives from Rødt, MDG, KrF, Venstre, SV and Frp to react. – The government has been far too slow to carry out the necessary mapping of the area, says Lars Haltbrekken in SV. Lars Haltbrekken, SV Photo: William Jobling / news Only next year will mapping of biological diversity and habitat types on the seabed begin under state auspices. – Only sanding! says Sofie Marhaug in Rødt. Sofie Marhaug, Red. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news She believes it is wrong to map nature after the offshore wind area has been opened. The mapping of nature must reveal whether it is at all justifiable to build wind power in the area, points out Rødt. – The government will turn away According to Rødt, the government has therefore neglected the Storting’s decision on nature mapping of future areas for offshore wind areas. The Storting has asked the government to ensure “thorough mapping for all parts of the marine environment in areas that are, and may become, relevant for Norwegian offshore wind.” In addition, the Storting has decided that offshore wind farms must have significantly better natural and environmental accounts than previous energy projects in Norway. In order to fulfill this, good mapping is required before and during the call for tenders, emphasizes Rasmus Hansson in MDG. – We have seen clearly all along that the government wants to turn away, he says. – Needs a comprehensive plan Nor do the Liberals think the government has delivered what the Storting has decided. – We expect the government to follow up on this. We believe the government must also deliver a comprehensive plan for nature mapping in accordance with the decision from the energy report, says Storting politician Ola Elvestuen in Venstre. Or the Progress Party. – We do not see parliamentary decisions that have been followed up, and expect this to be done in the areas where developments are planned, says Terje Halleland in the FRP. – We expect the government to pick up the pace, says Kjell Ingolf Ropstad in KrF. The right is somewhat more wait-and-see. – The Storting has rightly set high environmental and nature demands, and the burden of proof now lies with the government, says Nikolai Astrup in the Conservative Party. OED: – Adequate State Secretary Astrid Bergmål (Ap) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (OED) is content to say that mapping of nature in the areas that are relevant for offshore wind is ongoing, and planned. – The mapping the government has proposed for next year includes mapping of the seabed, benthic communities, fish, marine mammals and seabirds in the areas that are relevant for offshore wind in 2025. This will constitute a holistic nature mapping. Astrid Bergmål (Ap), State Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Photo: Wilhelm Sverdvik / news SV has received approval for an extra 50 million for nature mapping of offshore wind areas. This happened in negotiations with the government parties Ap and Sp about next year’s state budget. A total of NOK 168 million will then be allocated for mapping and preparation of sea window notification in 2025, according to the OED. – This ensures sufficient funds for mapping nature in 2024. Funds for mapping seabirds were already strengthened in this year’s state budget, and have contributed to the start of this mapping, says Bergmål.
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The government is criticized for not having followed up the Storting’s decision on offshore wind and nature – news – Climate
