Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Sue Doughty (Liberal Democrat), on Wednesday, 9 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 29 members in total.

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DESTRUCTION OF THE ICELANDIC HIGHLANDS

That this House is seriously concerned at the construction of a series of dams at Karahnjukar in the Icelandic highlands, one of Europe's last unspoilt wildernesses, to power an aluminium smelting plant for the US multinational Alcoa; notes that Iceland's National Planning Agency rejected the project on the grounds of substantial, irreversible negative environmental impact; further notes that an Icelandic court has ruled that the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted with the planning application for the Alcoa smelter is invalid; further notes that the dam is being built on a seismic fault with significant risk to local populations and that the build-up of silt will result in dust storms damaging farmland and feeding grounds for reindeer and many birds species; further notes that the principal subcontractor, Impregilo, is facing corruption charges in Africa; regrets the decision of Barclays to provide a loan of $400 million for the project in breach of the Equator Principles which demand sound environmental practices as a financial prerequisite; draws attention to plans to build dams in Thjorsarver, despite being protected by the RAMSAR Treaty, and in Langisjor, Skjalfandafljot and Skagafjordur region; supports the Icelandic independent campaigners who have requested international assistance for the domestic opposition to the projects; and calls on the Government to use its political and diplomatic links with the Icelandic Government to encourage them to terminate the Karahnjukar project and those at similar sites threatened by heavy industry so that the Icelandic Highlands are protected for the enjoyment of future generations of Icelanders and their visitors.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

DESTRUCTION OF THE ICELANDIC HIGHLANDS (883A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Austin Mitchell (primary, Labour) and tabled on Thursday, 17 March 2005. It has been signed by 2 members in total.

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.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

883 

883A1 

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Damage Environment Nature conservation Pollution control Iceland Dams ALCOA

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk