A small left-wing environmentalist party in Norway, the Socialist Left Party (SV), succeeded in halting plans to mine the sea bed in the Arctic by demanding that the government cancel its first licensing round in exchange for supporting the national budget. Kirsti Bergstø, the leader of the SV, announced the success, declaring that the party had effectively stopped the government’s deep-sea mining plans. The government, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre from the Labour Party, confirmed that although the mining exploration permits would be delayed, preparations like creating regulations and mapping the environmental impacts would still continue.
Norway had previously been poised to launch its first licensing round for deep-sea mining exploration in the Arctic in 2025, aiming to tap into the metals needed for green technologies. However, the plans faced opposition from environmental groups, including Greenpeace, and from a coalition of 32 countries, including Germany, France, Canada, and Brazil, who expressed concerns about the environmental consequences.
This political development represents a significant win for environmental activists, as Greenpeace’s Frode Pleym described it as a “crucial victory” in the fight against deep-sea mining, calling it a potential “nail in the coffin” for the industry. The SV’s deal with the minority government, which includes Labour and the Centre Party, ensures the cancellation of the licensing round, at least for now.
However, the situation could change in the future as Norwegians head to the polls in September 2025, with two opposition parties, the Conservatives and the Progress Party, in favor of pursuing deep-sea mining. Greenpeace has vowed to oppose any future attempts to restart the licensing round.