Submission to the EU Arctic Policy Consultation

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) submits a response to the European Union's Arctic policy consultation, urging the EU to maintain its moratorium on Arctic fossil fuel extraction and establish a phase-out timeline for imports from the region.

• The IISD recommends that the European Union maintain its commitment to an Arctic moratorium on oil, coal, and gas extraction. This is justified by the fact that new Arctic fields would only become operational at a time when the EU should be well advanced on its net-zero pathway.
• Maintaining the moratorium is seen as a way to minimize security risks, particularly in the Barents Sea, which is shared by Norway and Russia. Increased reliance on oil and gas imports from this region is viewed as increasing the EU's exposure to security risks due to geopolitical changes.
• The IISD argues that fossil fuel expansion in the Arctic threatens biodiversity and wildlife through increased risks of oil spills, leakages, and underwater noise from seismic surveys and shipping. Additionally, the EU risks losing credibility as a climate leader if it deviates from commitments shared by partners like Canada and Greenland.
• The IISD recommends that the EU establish a clear timeline to phase out fossil fuel imports originating from north of the Arctic Circle, specifically mentioning the Barents seas 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} }