Submission to the EU Arctic Policy Consultation

The IISD recommends that the EU uphold its commitment to keep oil, coal, and gas in the ground within the Arctic to align with net-zero pathways, reduce geopolitical security risks associated with the Barents Sea, and protect fragile ecosystems from oil spills and noise pollution. The document further suggests a clear phase-out timeline for fossil fuel imports originating from north of the Arctic Circle, including the northern Norwegian and Barents seas, to maintain the EU's credibility as a climate leader alongside partners like Canada and Greenland.

• The EU should maintain its Arctic fossil fuel moratorium because new fields would only become operational at a time when the EU should be well advanced on its net-zero pathway, and doing so would minimize security risks, particularly in the Barents Sea shared by Norway and Russia.
• Expanding oil and gas in the Arctic threatens biodiversity and wildlife through increased risks of leakages, oil spills, and harmful underwater noise from seismic surveys and shipping.
• To preserve its credibility as a climate leader and align with partners such as Canada and Greenland, the EU should establish a clear timeline to phase out fossil fuel imports from north of the Arctic Circle, including the Barents and northern Norwegian seas.

APA

Parra,, N. J. A. Y. (2026). Submission to the EU Arctic Policy Consultation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/submission-eu-arctic-policy

Chicago

Parra,, Natalie Jones,Paola Andrea Yanguas. Submission to the EU Arctic Policy Consultation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/submission-eu-arctic-policy.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Parra, |first1=Natalie Jones,Paola Andrea Yanguas |title=Submission to the EU Arctic Policy Consultation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=23 March 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/submission-eu-arctic-policy |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{parra2026submission, author = {Parra,, Natalie Jones,Paola Andrea Yanguas}, title = {{Submission to the EU Arctic Policy Consultation}}, publisher = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/brief/submission-eu-arctic-policy}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }