#38: Kaja Lønn Fjærtoft, WWF and The Policy Battle Over Deep Sea Mining

In this episode, I spoke with Kaja Lønn Fjærtoft, Global Policy Lead for Deep Sea Mining at WWF, about the policy and regulatory debates shaping the future of seabed mining.

The conversation focuses heavily on Norway’s seabed minerals process, which has become one of the most closely watched national developments in the global deep sea mining debate. Kaja walks through how the regulatory framework works, why WWF believes the current process moved too quickly, and where the major points of disagreement lie between environmental groups, industry, and policymakers.

Follow Kaja:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kajafjaertoft/Instagram: @snublefota

Follow WWF Norway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wwfnorge/X (Twitter): https://x.com/WWFNorgeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWFNorge/

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Marine Biology & Family Roots 07:05 – The Risks of "Adaptive Management" 16:45 – Understanding WWF’s Global Role 22:19 – Funding, Independence & Fact-Checking 28:09 – Oil & Gas Expertise vs. Deep-Sea Mining 41:49 – Norway’s "Opening Process" & Legal Framework 46:55 – Problems with the Government’s Impact Assessment 1:10:23 – Politics: Why the 2029 Postponement Matters 1:26:09 – International Waters & "The Common Heritage"

Further Resources

The Future Is Circular (SINTEF Minerals report) - https://www.sintef.no/en/publications/publication/2073636/

WWF Deep Sea Mining Hub - wwf.no/gruvedrift-på-havbunnen (Norway Office) or wwf.panda.org/deep_seabed (International)

Norwegian Government White Paper - www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/meld.-st.-25-20222023/id2985856/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tradingoff.substack.com/subscribe