letter to the government of norway
TRANSCRIPT
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7/30/2019 Letter to the Government of Norway
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The Norwegian government
Oslo
Norway
No oil activity in Lofoten, Vesterlen and Senja
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to urge you, the new government of Norway, to
protect the coastal waters off Lofoten, Vesterlen and Senja, and to say no to oil and gas activity in
this area.
If the world is to succeed in preventing dangerous climate change, much of the available fossil fuels
will have to be left in the ground. In this situation, avoiding oil and gas activity in some of the worldsmost sensitive and biodiversity-rich ecosystems should be the first step.
The areas around the Arctic archipelago Lofoten, Vesterlen and Senja are the spawning grounds of
the largest remaining cod stock in the world, as well as being vital for other important and valuable
fish species. An estimated 3-5 per cent of the worlds fish stock grows up in these areas. A large oil
spill here could therefore affect not only the nature and economy of Norway, but also the global food
safety situation.
The area holds unique cold-water coral reefs, pods of sperm whale and killer whales and some of the
largest seabird colonies in Europe. One of the world`s largest seasonal fisheries, with a history of
more than thousand years, takes place in Lofoten. The Lofoten islands are also on the tentative world
heritage list of UNESCO.
Important Norwegian environmental institutions have expressed their opposition to the plan to open
up the areas off Lofoten, Vesterlen and Senja for oil and gas activity. We wish to make you aware
that this view has international support. We, the undersigned organizations, represent a broad range
of environmental organizations, youth organizations, social movements and other civil society
organizations. Many of us are involved in our own struggles to keep fossil fuels in the ground. If the
new government of Norway decides to open these areas for oil activity, it would set a disappointing
precedent internationally, and make it harder for us to argue for stronger restrictions on oil and gas
activity from our governments. If not Norway, as one of the riches countries in the world, can afford
to leave some of the oil and gas in the soil - which country will then be able to do it? And if not even
the valuable and unique areas of Lofoten, Vesterlen and Senja are off limits for the oil and gas
industry - which areas are then worth protecting?
We ask you to contribute to maintaining Norways reputation as a leader in environmental issues and
a strong supporter of keeping global temperature rise below 2C. We ask that you protect the areas
off Lofoten, Vesterlen and Senja against oil and gas activity.
Sincerely,