Push for a Pause: 33 Nations Urge Caution in Deep-Sea Mining at UN Ocean Conference
Thirty-three States advocate for a "cautious halt" in deep-sea mining activities.
Hey there! Let's chat about a pressing issue at the UN Ocean Conference that's got the world talking.
From Europe, America, and the Pacific, as many as 30 states have pitched for "at least a precautionary pause" in environmentally detrimental deep-sea mining. In a statement on Monday, France, one of the 33 signatory states, stressed the importance of protecting the seabed's bountiful, yet little-known species. Germany also signed the plea, which was issued during the inaugural day of the conference in Nice.
The statement reads, "The seabed is home to a vast variety of unknown species that need to be preserved." The minerals hidden in seabed areas beyond national boundaries are considered the "common heritage of mankind," the statement continues, emphasizing that mining there would breach international law. To substantiate this claim, the signatories pointed to the US, which, in April 2021, signed a decree permitting the exploration of valuable minerals like nickel and cobalt, both in American and international waters.
The deep sea teems with life forms not found anywhere else. While the US economy yearns for the billions of tons of valuable minerals hidden under, the signatories emphasized, the deep sea is also a vital CO2 sink that plays a crucial role in combating climate change. Additionally, harmful heavy metals could enter the food chain if mining activities were to begin.
Although France advocates for an outright ban on deep-sea mining, Germany is pushing for a more measured approach—a "precautionary pause." Commenting on the situation, German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, during his opening speech on the German research ship Meteor in Nice, asserted, "Given the growing pressure to exploit resources in the international deep sea, strict environmental standards must be negotiated in the coming years as part of the 'Mining Code'."
Mining firms have long lobbied for the extraction of valuable minerals from the seabed, and current regulations have so far lacked international rules for their possible extraction. Different metal accumulations, such as copper, iron, and rare earths, manifest as manganese nodules in the deep sea.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international body tasked with regulating deep-sea mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction, is working on a comprehensive regulatory framework known as the Mining Code. As of now, the ISA aims to finalize the Mining Code by July 2025. The Council is also grappling with concerns about the potential environmental impact of deep-sea mining, with many experts voicing fears that the practice could result in irreversible damage to marine ecosystems.
As the world awaits the development of a robust and sustainable regulatory framework, 37 countries have already expressed their support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. This call for caution is driven by concerns about the possible environmental damage and the need for further scientific understanding before proceeding with mining activities.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP, [BBC][1], [Deep Sea Mining Campaign][2], [International Seabed Authority][3], [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea][5]
[1] BBC. (2021, April 28). UN warns of deep-sea mining threat to marine life. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56883216
[2] Deep Sea Mining Campaign. (2021). Deep-Sea Mining. [online] Available at: https://deepseaminingimpacts.org/
[3] International Seabed Authority. (2021). Deep Seabed Mining. [online] Available at: https://www.isa.org.jm/our-work/mining/deep-sea-mining
[4] Oceanic Global. (2021). Deep Sea Mining. [online] Available at: https://oceanicglobal.org/issues/climate-change/deep-sea-mining/
[5] UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). (n.d.). UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf
- The call for a precautionary pause in deep-sea mining, signed by 33 countries, also includes the need for more emphasis on environmental-science and policy-and-legislation, especially in relation to climate-change and the protection of marine ecosystems.
- In light of the UN Ocean Conference, some nations are advocating for a reconsideration of community policies towards vocational training in environmental-science and political science, in order to address the pressing issues of deep-sea mining and climate-change.
- As the International Seabed Authority works on the Mining Code, vocational training programs in science, especially in the field of environmental-science, will be crucial to ensure that policy-and-legislation is informed by the latest knowledge, helping to mitigate the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on the environment and climate-change.
