The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has urged the European Union to reconsider its opposition to new oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, arguing that the region could play an important role in strengthening Europe’s long-term energy security. Speaking in Brussels, Birol said Norway—Europe’s largest natural gas supplier—remains a reliable energy partner and warned that declining output from ageing oil and gas fields could threaten future supplies unless new resources are developed. The appeal comes as Europe continues to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels and grapples with heightened energy market volatility linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The proposal has reignited debate between energy security and climate commitments. Environmental groups, investors, and climate experts argue that new Arctic oil and gas projects typically take more than a decade to become operational, limiting their ability to address current energy shortages while posing significant risks to one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. The European Union is reviewing its Arctic policy, with supporters of continued restrictions insisting that expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and investing in cleaner technologies offer a more sustainable path to long-term energy resilience. More