U.S. Marines Publicly Criticize Independently Taken U.S. Actions
Let's Dive Into the Deep Blue Sea - Or Not?
Last week, ol' Donny Trump, our good old US prez, opened a can of worms by giving the green light to mining in international waters. Leticia Carvalho, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), ain't too happy about that. She declared that no one has the right to unilaterally undertake such mining activities, y'hear?
Why's that, you ask? Well, according to Carvalho, no State has the right to unilaterally exploit the mineral resources in the deep seabed beyond the legal framework established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty that regulated the world's oceans, including the deep seabed in international waters, which is considered the common heritage of mankind. The U.S., as ya might've guessed, ain't signed up to this shindig.
The ISA, an organization responsible for managing the deep seabed mining, is currently in the process of ironing out the rules for commercial extraction of minerals for the energy transition. The U.S.'s sudden interest in deep-sea mining runs contrary to its 30+ year history of supporting the work of the ISA.
Trump, being the hot-headed chap he is, issued a decree to speed up the examination of mining applications and the granting of permits, not just in U.S. waters, but in international ones too. To add fuel to the fire, The Metals Company, a Canadian outfit, announced that it has submitted the first application to deep-sea mine in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific.
Carvalho warns that any unilateral action sets a dangerous precedent, possibly destabilizing the entire system of ocean governance. Ya see, when it comes to international waters, the rules set by UNCLOS are often considered as rules of customary international law, respected even by countries who ain't officially on board.
Carvalho invites the U.S. to play nice and focus its efforts on deep-sea mining through international institutional and legal frameworks. Disregarding UNCLOS, she notes, could lead to risks in international relations and investment security. Sounds like advice worth taking, don't you think?
Now, here's where it get tricky. The U.S. has its own domestic legislation, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980, that gives it the power to regulate its citizens' deep-sea mining activities in international waters. But treading down this path could lead to legal challenges from environmental groups and potential diplomatic crap storms.
So, there you have it. While the U.S. might technically be within its rights to mine in international waters, the consequences could be far-reaching, possibly fracturing the delicate balance of global governance principles established by UNCLOS. Spring a leak in one part of the ocean, and the whole boat might tumble, ol' chum.
- The United States, despite not ratifying UNCLOS, is now considering deep-sea mining in international waters, contravening the established policy-and-legislation set by the treaty.
- The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is currently developing frameworks for commercial extraction of minerals in the deep seabed, which are intended for the energy transition, but the U.S.'s actions threaten to undermine this process.
- Leticia Carvalho, the Secretary-General of the ISA, has expressed concern about unilateral actions regarding deep-sea mining, warning of the risks in international relations and investment security.
- The general news reports that The Metals Company has submitted the first application to deep-sea mine in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific, potentially aggravating the situation and adding to the debate over sea governance under UNCLOS.
