Recent climate initiatives by the Norwegian government face opposition from the Sami Indigenous peoples whose territory is directly affected. The proposed 54-kilometer power line will be built by the state-owned energy company Equinor, located at the northernmost tip of the country, well above the Arctic. Sami believes that power lines can affect traditional reindeer herds, violating their right to cultural conservation and a healthy environment under international law. at least One group Herders plans to take legal action.
Raising is an important practice among Samis. It is the heart of their tradition and their livelihood. Reindeer is the main source of Sami’s meat, and uses fur in traditional crafts and clothing. As animals avoid spaces with extensive infrastructure, power lines can affect reindeer herds. This project could disrupt the reindeer migration route as mentioned earlier project I have it. Their population is spliced by borders, but modern Saami considers themselves as one group. They are places that shift in seminomadic, depending on the season and the herd pasture.
There is history The dynamics of disproportionate forces between Saami and the Norwegian government and their relationship are tense by the construction of governments on Indigenous lands. For example, the 1970s The Conflict of Alta Norwegian initiatives were involved to build a dam on the Alta River, which could flood the village of Saami. In 2010, Norway built a wind farm on Sami land, reindeer and Confuses maintenance of Sami cultural practices. Noise generated during construction and Throw ice from the blade of a windmill It can significantly interfere with grazing during operation. In March 2024, the Norwegian government compensated saami for the settlement $473,000 Just three years after the Norwegian Supreme Court, dedicated to cultural preservation Wind farm permits have been declared invalid.
The proposed equiner power lines are the point of recent competition between Sami and the Norwegian government. The power line is intended to help Norway achieve its climate target of reducing its overall carbon footprint by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. HammerFest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production plants, the largest LNG production plant in Western Europe, does so by allowing turbines to be operated using renewable energy rather than burning gas. Exporting natural gas from this factory can generate enough electricity to supply 6.5 million house. Additionally, the proposed power line initiative aims to bring other benefits to the country through the creation of new jobs.
Precedents of Free, advance, and informed consent (fpic) It is related to violations caused by projects built on Indigenous lands. This concept formed part of the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169, ratified in 1989. This will allow all entities, including governments and international organizations, to consult with Indigenous groups when they wish to pursue activities on the land.
The Norwegian government claimed it had followed the FPIC through its initiative, but this may not have been the case. Norway was One of the first countries to ratify ILO 169sets the definition of the FPIC. However, FPICs are not fully implemented in some cases. For example, after the implementation of the Consultation Act in June 2021, Norwegian courts declared the Norwegian government in October 2021. I didn’t follow the FPIC When establishing a power plant on the enemy peninsula.
Maria Antonia Tigraylegal scholar and head of the World Climate Litigation Law at Columbia University, said: [of the FPIC claims]by binding international agreements, it is essential to strengthen the enforceability of FPICs and ensure their implementation within domestic legal frameworks. ”
Norway’s Deputy Energy Minister Elizabeth Cesar It is listed Last year, in 1966, the construction of power lines was compliant with another international agreement. International contracts on civil and political rights The office of the United Nations High Commissioner stated that the activities carried out should not violate Indigenous cultural practices. she Discussed The impact of the Powerline is that it is “not a major obstacle and that the herdsmen cannot practice their culture.”
However, the power plant is located in the area used by reindeer. Reindeer may avoid areas that affect migration Movement It creates risk if the herd needs to pass nearby A pretty glacier In this part of Norway’s Finmark state, recent melts have increased river flow and caused flooding. These conditions allow the soil to become more wetlands and put reindeer at risk Hoove diseasefatal.
Terror Mutonen, a Finnish researcher focusing on the Saami people, reaffirms that the group is a loser when it comes to treaty creation. “We don’t really look at the land use situation or the “contracts.” There, the Saami community and people could mostly achieve a full FPIC, but even so, Sabmi’s land use pressure mimics wind power generation, tourism and the hydrogen economy. ”
Saami people are already affected by disproportionate climate change. The North Pole It’s almost warming 2x faster Like the other world. Sami turns to face Unpredictable snow conditions. Instead of a consistent pattern of snowfall, more and more rainfall occurs in the Sapumi region in winter. Rain falls into the snow often forms a layer of ice. Reindeers are unable to break this layer of ice and reach one of their main food sources, lichen. This directly affects the greatest source of nutrition and cultural conservation for Sami people.
Native communities living on affected lands are often not consulted as governments around the world are urging them to follow climate initiatives and make every sacrifice of carbon emissions. Even if a deal is reached, the demands of Indigenous communities are rarely met. As Tigre said, “The issue is not only about justice for Indigenous communities, but also about maintaining important ecosystems and cultural heritage in the face of accelerated climate change.”
As of April 2025, construction of Norway’s power lines remains suspended due to legal frailty. Saami Congress seeks approval Pursuing legal action It cites concerns about the electrification project regarding the impact of reindeer herds and samis on cultural practices. The Norwegian government has yet to issue a final ruling, putting uncertainty about the future of the project.
The project aims to reduce carbon emissions by supplying renewable energy to the HammerFest LNG plant, but poses a major risk to Saami’s traditional livelihoods. The outcome of this incident may set precedents on how the country balances national climate initiatives with indigenous community rights.
