Earth Science News
WATER WORLD
Norway announces plans to allow deep-sea mining exploration
Norway announces plans to allow deep-sea mining exploration
by AFP Staff Writers
Oslo (AFP) June 20, 2023

Norway said Tuesday it plans to open parts of its continental shelf to commercial deep-sea mining exploration, a controversial move it hoped would set the standard for good practices.

The announcement comes a day after the UN adopted the first international treaty to protect the high seas.

Environmentalists are vehemently opposed to seabed mining amid fears it could inflict damage on deep-sea ecosystems, such as fish populations, marine mammals and the ecosystems' function regulating the climate.

"We need minerals to succeed with the green transition," Norway's Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Aasland insisted in a statement announcing the government's proposal.

The seabed on the country's continental shelf is believed to contain large deposits of minerals, including the possibility of rare earth minerals.

"Seabed minerals can become a source of access to important metals, and no other country has a better basis to lead the way... when it comes to managing such resources in a sustainable and responsible way," Aasland said.

Often considered a champion of the environment, Norway is also Europe's biggest oil and gas producer.

The government said extraction would "only be permitted if the industry can demonstrate that it can be done in a sustainable and responsible manner."

Aasland said the minerals needed for the green transition were "today controlled by few countries, something that makes us vulnerable".

China is currently the world's largest producer of rare earths, a group of 17 heavy metals that are actually abundant in the Earth's crust.

Mining the metals requires heavy chemical use that results in huge amounts of toxic waste and has caused several environmental disasters, making many countries wary of shouldering the heavy financial costs for production.

Rare earths are used in industry and can be found in a wide variety of both everyday and high-tech devices, from light bulbs to guided missiles.

Norway's announcement came a day after UN member states adopted the first treaty establishing a legal framework to extend swathes of environmental protections to international waters, which make up more than 60 percent of the world's oceans.

Norwegian environmental organisation Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth) told AFP it was "really disappointed in the Norwegian government".

"We don't have enough research to know the full environmental impacts," said Gytis Blazevicius, the group's deputy head.

"We can't build a sustainable industry, a sustainable society, continuing with the same 'business as usual' mindset, doing exactly the same as what made the society we live in now unsustainable," Blazevicius said.

But the head of the University of Alaska's Center for Arctic Security and Resilience downplayed the risks.

"I think localised sea-bed mining will have a relatively minor impact to ecosystems if done responsibly," Troy Bouffard told AFP, adding that the impact of global warming on maritime ecosystems "is the more urgent problem."

"I absolutely believe that Norway should help lead the world into seabed mining if such production is the foregone conclusion," he added.

Bouffard cited Norway's "rare and effective model" for the oil and gas sector "that removes private-sector pressure to exploit gaps in pursuit of maximum profits."

"If seabed mining grows into a large-scale, world-wide practice, then early development of effective practices is critical to preventing avoidable problems that are part of the immediate and ongoing debate," Bouffard said.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Rescue teams search for missing submersible near Titanic wreck
New York USA (AFP) Jun 20, 2023
Rescue teams raced against time on Tuesday in their search for a tourist submersible that went missing near the wreck of the Titanic with five people on board. One of the passengers has been identified as British businessman Hamish Harding, whose aviation firm had posted on social media about his expedition. Prominent Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, who is vice-chairman of the conglomerate Engro, and his son Suleman were also on board, a family statement said. The 21-foot (6.5-m ... read more

WATER WORLD
US, EU, UK pledge additional aid at Ukraine Recovery Conference in London

Facing housing crunch, Toronto cuts into once-protected lands

U.N. accuses Russia of blocking aid to Kakhovka dam victims

Struggling German Greens urge EU to reconsider asylum reforms

WATER WORLD
Mitsubishi Electric demonstrates light source module for high-capacity laser links

AFRL demonstrates new augmented reality capability to improve DAF Nondestructive Inspections

Indonesia orders 13 long-range military radars from Thales

Italy sets curbs on Pirelli's Chinese investor Sinochem

WATER WORLD
We've pumped so much groundwater that we've nudged the Earth's spin

Volvic on front line of France's new water fears

Brazil seizes massive shark fin haul

A Spectacular Display: The Seasonal Radiance of the North Sea

WATER WORLD
Sustainability at centre of British polar science strategy

Himalayan glaciers melting 65 percent faster than previous decade: study

Antarctic ice shelves experienced only minor changes in surface melt since 1980

Order in chaos: Atmosphere's Antarctic oscillation has natural cycle

WATER WORLD
US approves lab-grown chicken for sale

Smart farming platform improves crop yields, minimizes pollution

Shock to the crop system

Climate warming pits geese against farmers in Finland

WATER WORLD
Intriguing correlation between earthquakes and cosmic radiation

Tonga Hunga eruption produced the most intense lightning ever recorded

Cyclone leaves 13 dead in Brazil

Cyclone Biparjoy eases over Indian coast

WATER WORLD
Somalis search for love online, but don't call it dating

Syrian leaders, Congolese rebels hit with UK sanctions

South Africa's Ramaphosa tells Putin Ukraine 'war must be settled'

Minusma: Mali's controversial peacekeeping mission

WATER WORLD
Climate change likely led to violence in early Andean populations

How big tech embraced disabled users

When is migration successful adaptation to climate change

UNESCO says US plans to rejoin body from July

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.