How we take nature into account

Nature in the North Sea is being subjected to increasing pressures. This is worrying, as nature and biodiversity are crucial to a healthy North Sea and, by extension, to our own prosperity and well-being. The North Sea provides food and jobs, and a healthy North Sea also stores large amounts of CO₂, helping to counteract global warming. 

Already one of the busiest seas on our planet, the North Sea is expected to be used even more intensively in coming years, for the energy transition and other challenges. So careful consideration must be given to the resilience of natural systems and action taken to protect nature when developing infrastructure.

We strive to minimise negative impacts, both when constructing infrastructure and subsequently operating it. This includes reducing noise pollution and preventing habitat damage caused by platform and pipeline placements. Our infrastructure may also create opportunities for helping nature. In addition to mitigating measures, we are investigating whether we can build artificial reefs, for example, and design infrastructure so that it strengthens natural systems and attracts new life.

This is a relatively new topic that is being embraced by more and more parties. In the coming years, we will continue to develop our knowledge in this area. This means we’ll not only be working on a sustainable energy system, we’ll also be acting to preserve the ecological resilience of the North Sea.