The Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg (and others) of Norway wants to open vulnerable areas in the Norwegian Sea for oil drilling.
The regions, Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja, are examples of unique areas that are of great significance for fish, birds and mammals. This is the most important spawning area for cod in the northern hemisphere. It has the largest seabird colonies on the mainland of Europe. It is also home to the world's largest cold-water coral reefs.
Norwegian emissions are higher than ever, and Norway is still among the largest exporters of oil and gas. The result of Norwegian climate policy is according to The Economist that "Norway earns fat on the planet's expense while only using a small portion of the proceeds on projects to remedy a small portion of the damage."
Ivar A. Iversen in the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen writes:"If Norway will continue to blow oil out of the earth, and the breath of life out of the planet or instead focus on solar, wind, waves or other of the earth's eternal elements, is very much a question of values, whether one believes on Darwin and other gentlemen. If the Parliament will open for oil drilling off Lofoten and Vesterålen, is probably the most important single decision in this value debate in the next few years.
