Greenpeace Calls For Arctic Ocean Drilling Ban

Greenpeace Calls For Arctic Ocean Drilling Ban As Oil Industry And Governments Meet

Tromsø, Norway, 24 January 2010 – Greenpeace is calling for an immediate moratorium on all activity by extractive industries in the Arctic Ocean, as representatives from oil companies, governments and scientists meet to discuss the future of the region at the Arctic Frontiers Conference, (25-29 January) in Tromsø, Norway.

Greenpeace Nordic Executive Director Mads Flarup Christensen will address the conference plenary on Tuesday 26 January at 14.50-15.20

The moratorium needs to cover the part of the Arctic Ocean that has historically been covered by sea ice and remain in place until a permanent international agreement is established, similar to the agreement that protects the Antarctic.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Arctic Ocean seabed contains over 20% of the world’s fossil fuel resources. With the urgent need to cut carbon emissions drastically and avert catastrophic climate change, these must stay underground.

Scientists from Greenpeace’s summer 2009 Arctic ice expedition will present their preliminary findings on their research on the impacts of climate change in the Arctic, demonstrating the impacts of climate change are taking place faster than predicted

The conference will be attended by Greenpeace campaigners from Norway, Denmark and the United States.

Award-winning photojournalist Nick Cobbing will present his photographs from Greenpeace’s Arctic expedition on Tuesday 26 January at 18.00; Tromsø Art Cooperative (Tromsø Kunstforening).

The speech will be live-streamed at http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/ as well as on http://www.arctic-frontiers.com/

ENDS