–We are the biggest environmental movement in Norway, the church bishops say.
In a sign of protest against government policies, a group of prominent church representatives this week assembled in front of the Norwegian Parliament building in Oslo. The church wants five years of thinking before Norway proceeds with oil exploration. That will give time for a thorough debate on interrelations on oil production and the climate crisis, enhanced focus on alternative energy generation and new technology, the church representatives argue.
However, the request is not supported by all the bishops. Per Oskar Kjølaas from the northernmost diocese of Nord-Hålogaland says the proposed five-year moratorium has been insufficiently discussed and that there is “no contradiction in having a serious stance on the preservation of God’s creation and conducting a responsible oil exploration”, NRK reports.
The church request to government to postpone all oil exploration for five years, comes as the public debate on the possible opening of the oil-rich but vulnerable waters of the Lofoten archipelago for the oil industry reaches new hights. The Lofoten issue is expected to become a hot potato in the upcoming September parliament elections.
The church position has sparked strong reactions from several members of parliament, among them several Labour Party deputies favoring a rapid opening of the Lofoten resources. Also the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) has expressed major irritation with the Church position. LO leader Roar Flåthen said to NRK that the statement from the Church is untimely interference in a political issue.
The bishops meanwhile argue that it is the Church’s responsibility to help protect God’s creation.
-We believe God has created the world and that we have to help protect it! We believe we now should take a five year period of thinking, in order not to take irreversible wrong decisions. We are not talking about stalling today’s work within the oil sector, but about making the right choices for the future, leader of the Church Council Jens-Petter Johnsen says at the church website.
