Norway Greenlights Deep-sea Mining Exploration

Environmental activists worried about the potential impact of deep-sea mining protested outside of Norway's parliament as lawmakers debated and approved a measure that allows exploration to begin (Credit: AFP)

Norway's parliament on Tuesday adopted a government plan to open up parts of its seabed to mining exploration, despite protests from activists and scientists' warnings about the uncertain environmental impact.

The proposal to gradually open up a 280,000-square-kilometre (108,100 square mile) area, mostly in the Arctic, was approved by the Storting, with 80 votes in favour and 20 against.