There are many organisations and corporations who over a long period of time have been looking at ways that they could exploit the resources which are contained within the arctic Ocean. There is little doubt that those resources exist, however what is more important is the potential risks to attempting to exploit those resources.

The primary risk related specifically to Arctic Oil and gas exploration of course is that of an oil spill. There is only one way to describe this situation it would be utterly catastrophic. Here some quotes of people who take an interest in the Arctic and it’s environment:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

“The cataclysmic impact of an oil spill in the High Arctic Ocean is unimaginable. That’s why we made the decision that there needed to be moratorium on Arctic oil and gas exploration.”

David Miller, CEO of World Wildlife Fund Canada

“It’s quite clear from our work at WWF that risk to nature of drilling is far too great to be worth taking,

Excepting some opinionated American individuals (unfortunately in power) there is pretty much a consensus of the risks of climate change.   We are running out of time to drastically reduce our carbon footprint as a species, so to even consider mining for more of these fossil fuels in one of the environmentally sensitive places on Earth seems like utter madness.

However this is what the Norwegian government are doing, opening up a new oil frontier in the Arctic ocean together with several oil companies.  They have granted licenses for 12 oil companies to start exploration in the Barents Sea, Statoil is to drill to the far North in Korpfjell.

The Arctic is already melting due to our planet burning fossil fuels and to even consider allowing new oil wells to be set up there is a triumph of greed over common sense.   The Norwegian Government has a duty to provide a healthy and safe environment which is documented in it’s own constitution.    This in addition to the Paris Agreement should have been enough to prevent these rigs being allowed anywhere near the Arctic ocean.

Additional Resources.

To access the BBC and it’s documentary section from outside the UK is difficult, but the following resources will help – Can I Get BBC iPlayer in Spain, John Williams, 2016.

Free Trial accessible from Australia and most European Countries :  bbc iplayer abroad free trial