Nordic coalition urges the EU to maintain the ban on Arctic oil and gas drilling.

A coalition of Nordic financial institutions, labor unions, and climate scientists urged the European Union on Wednesday to uphold its ban on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. They warned that any further development of fossil fuels could lead to environmental and security issues as the bloc reassesses its regional strategy.

In an open letter sent to five European commissioners, the group expressed worries that Brussels might relax its stance on Arctic drilling during the revision of its Arctic policy, which has favored a global prohibition on new oil and gas endeavors in the area since 2021 for environmental purposes.

The coalition highlighted that the changing geopolitical situation around the Barents Sea has raised security issues, suggesting that oil and gas infrastructure close to Russian territory and the Northern Sea Route might be at risk of sabotage or hybrid attacks.

The letter stated, “If oil and gas from the Norwegian Arctic becomes essential for Europe’s energy security, the infrastructure will become even more appealing as targets for sabotage, making the EU susceptible to such attacks.”

The appeal received support from 127 signatories, including former German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and former Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard.

The signatories cautioned that increasing drilling operations in the Arctic would heighten the likelihood of oil spills and leaks, endangering fragile ecosystems in a region warming at four times the global average. They described further fossil fuel development in the southern Barents Sea as an “unmanageable threat” to marine biodiversity.

The coalition also questioned the economic justification for new Arctic initiatives, pointing out that oil and gas projects on the Norwegian continental shelf typically take around 13 years before starting production. The letter indicated that fields approved now might not become operational until about 2040.

Additionally, the group referenced independent estimates from Rystad Energy, an energy research and business intelligence firm based in Norway, which suggested that the commercially recoverable resources in the Barents Sea are much lower than the Norwegian government’s projections.

They also cautioned that new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects would necessitate long-term purchase agreements, potentially extending Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels beyond the EU’s climate goals set for 2050.

Instead, the coalition urged EU leaders to focus on electrification, expanding renewable energy, and enhancing grid efficiency to bolster long-term energy security.

The Norwegian energy company Equinor supported the idea of updating the EU’s Arctic strategy but opposed a complete ban on exploration activities in the region, emphasizing that northern areas remain vital for energy security and stability.

A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed that the EU is revising its 2021 Arctic strategy, although discussions are still in the early phases and no final decisions have been reached.