DESTRUCTION OF THE ICELANDIC HIGHLANDS

Early day motion 883A1, tabled 17 March 2005 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 2 members.

Line 1, leave out from `House' to end and insert `does not accept the string of miscellaneous criticisms, some irrelevant and some wrong, against the Karahnjukar Project in Iceland; notes that it was approved after thorough scrutiny by environmental and legal experts, and with only nine votes against in the Icelandic parliament, and that it has only very limited impact on wildlife and on home settlements because it is largely underground; further notes that scientific assessment has shown that it poses no risks, and that the international bodies funding it have concluded that it meets the requirements of the Equator Principles; and therefore welcomes a project which will diversify the Icelandic economy, sustain regional development and increase renewable energy resources, and which will provide jobs in Iceland, while the wilderness around it will still be the largest nature conservation area in Europe, at 10 per cent. of the Icelandic surface area.'.

Signatures by party: Labour 2.