Documents Reveal Norweigan Officials Teamed With Oil Lobby To Stop Ban On Arctic Oil Drilling
March 10, 2017
This comes as the Norwegian government faces legal action from NGOs – including Greenpeace – over its decision to offer new drilling licenses of the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea.
Norwegian officials are lobbying to kill an EU resolution calling for an end to offshore oil drilling in Arctic waters, according to documents obtained by Energydesk.
A letter from Norwegian MP Eirik Siversten – who leads the delegation for Arctic parliamentary cooperation – urges members of the European Parliament “to delete in the plenary vote” the passages in support of an Arctic oil drilling ban.
Using virtually identical language, a letter from the leaders of Norway’s northernmost provinces voices stern opposition to those same three paragraphs.
The Nordic press is reporting on a concerted effort by both politicians and the oil lobby to block the proposed ban.
Europe will need to phase-out the use of fossil fuels in the coming decades if the world is to avert the catastrophic impacts of climate change.
This comes as the Norwegian government faces legal action from NGOs – including Greenpeace – over its decision to offer new drilling licenses of the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea.
British companies – including BP and British Gas owner Centrica – hold significant stakes in 7 of the 10 new oil licenses issued.
NorthNorway’s European Office told Energydesk it is important that political figures comment on “decisions that may have consequences for the regions they lead.”
“Just as the Norwegian oil industry should not guide the EU’s policies, the EU should not guide Norwegian regional development.”
