"Norway Greenlights Deep-Sea Mining Despite Controversy"

Norway has approved commercial-scale deep-sea mining in its national waters, becoming the first country to do so, despite concerns from environmental scientists about the potential devastating impact on marine life. The move aims to accelerate the hunt for precious metals critical for green technologies, but has faced criticism from both external sources and Norwegian experts. The government plans to issue licences cautiously, requiring companies to submit proposals with environmental assessments, and estimates that actual extraction may not begin until the early 2030s. Critics argue that more investment should go into recycling and reusing existing minerals, while negotiations continue on whether licences could be issued for international seas.