Norway postpones plans to open an Arctic zone for underwater mining, under political pressure and concerns about environmental impact.

The Norwegian government has decided to postpone plans to open an Arctic zone for commercial-scale undersea mining due to political pressure and concerns about environmental impact. The decision comes after government budget support was made conditional on the first round of mining licensing being scrapped. The Prime Minister described the decision as 'a reprieve' and emphasized that the government's policy on mineral exploitation remains unchanged. Environmental groups welcomed the decision, warning of the devastating consequences underwater mining could have on marine ecosystems.