body of water near concrete building during daytime.

Canadian firm seeks U.S. approval to mine deep-sea minerals, bypassing UN oversight

A Canadian company has asked the U.S. government for permission to mine international seafloors, sidestepping a United Nations agency and igniting legal and environmental disputes.

Dánica Coto reports for The Associated Press.


In short:

  • The Metals Company applied to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for two exploration licenses and a commercial recovery permit to mine the seabed, becoming the first company to request such authorization.
  • The move follows a Trump administration executive order encouraging the fast-tracking of seabed mining permits and has triggered objections from environmentalists and the U.N.’s International Seabed Authority, which claims exclusive rights to regulate international deep-sea mining.
  • Scientists and advocates warn that deep-sea mining could cause irreversible harm to fragile marine ecosystems, with some describing it as an unjustifiable environmental experiment.

Key quote:

“Deep-sea mining has the potential to impact not just the seabed environment, but all of the life in between.”

— Jeff Watters, external affairs vice president for the Ocean Conservancy

Why this matters:

Deep-sea mining has emerged as a contentious solution to the soaring demand for critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, essential for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles. Yet, the ecosystems targeted, such as those in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, are among the least understood and most ecologically sensitive on Earth. These deep ocean environments not only harbor unique species but also play roles in carbon sequestration and regulating global climate patterns. Mining could stir up vast sediment plumes, release toxins, and disrupt these delicate systems in ways scientists are only beginning to grasp.

Related: Humans may start mining the deep sea despite limited knowledge

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities
Photo credit: Kristina Marusic for EHN

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

PITTSBURGH — On Wednesday, the morning after hurricane-like weather conditions killed at least four people and caused power outages at more than 400,000 homes in southwestern Pennsylvania, community advocates and scientists held an event to discuss how President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have set back climate action and harmed environmental health and research.

Keep reading...Show less
Hands in a row on a tree trunk.

Opinion: How leadership shapes our choices on climate change

If Big Oil had led on climate instead of denying it, we might be living in a very different world, writes Ruxandra Guidi for High Country News.

Keep reading...Show less
A woman's hands mend a red sweater.

Fixing clothes is becoming a quiet, powerful rebellion against fast fashion

A global movement of visible mending is transforming the simple act of repairing clothes into a personal and environmental statement.

Kaja Šeruga reports for Reasons To Be Cheerful.

Keep reading...Show less
Protest sign with a painting of the earth and the words One World.

Cop30 faces challenges as Trump’s climate retreat and global tensions complicate negotiations

Governments worldwide will meet in Brazil this November for the Cop30 summit amid economic strain and a U.S. withdrawal from climate commitments under President Trump.

Oliver Milman reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
Yellow diesel truck on highway during daytime under partly cloudy skies.

House votes to block California truck emission rules, challenging legal norms

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to overturn California’s clean truck standards aimed at reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, despite objections from Congress’ own legal watchdog.

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill.

Keep reading...Show less
A factory complex emits pollutioni through several smokestacks with hazy skies in background.
Credit: Photo by jessie zhang/Unsplash

US Senate votes to ease regulations on toxic air pollution from industry

In a historic rollback of Clean Air Act protections, the U.S. Senate voted to let polluters off the hook for controlling the most dangerous air pollutants, with the House of Representatives and President Trump expected to follow suit.

Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
Graphic image of business person running for an exit door.

Mass exodus of senior staff reshapes federal energy and environmental agencies under Trump

Federal buyouts and retirements are depleting U.S. agencies of experienced staff in energy, environment, and public health, raising concerns about long-term policy capacity.

Hannah Northey, Heather Richards, and Sean Reilly report for E&E News.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

People  sitting in an outdoors table working on a big sign.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

joe biden

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.