deep sea mining
Credit: Jeff Hester / Ocean Image Bank
Most marine protected areas fail to offer true protection
A new study reveals that the majority of the world's largest marine protected areas (MPAs) fail to implement effective conservation measures, allowing destructive activities to persist.
In short:
- Only one-third of the world's largest MPAs have high or full protection, covering just 2.6% of the global ocean.
- Many MPAs are "paper parks," existing in name only without any real conservation measures in place.
- Some MPAs permit activities like mining and industrial fishing, undermining their conservation goals.
Key quote:
“There are 18,000 MPAs, but a hundred of them make up 90 percent of the area. These are the big needle movers.”
— Beth Pike, director of the Marine Protection Atlas
Why this matters:
Effective marine protection is vital to meeting international conservation targets and preserving marine biodiversity. The failure to implement meaningful protections jeopardizes global efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and human exploitation on our oceans. Read more: Can marine protected areas reduce marine disease?
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Newsletter
Indigenous concerns about the environmental and social costs of the green transition
Indigenous leaders express growing concerns about the environmental and social impacts of green energy projects.
In short:
- Leaders from across the globe gathered in New York at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
- A report presented on the first day of the forum argue that the green economy perpetuates extractive practices, often ignoring Indigenous rights.
- The Indigenous leaders called for a ban on deep-sea mining as well as mining in sacred lands.
- Key international reports and conferences emphasize the disproportionate impact on Indigenous lands by projects aimed at combating climate change.
Key quote:
“The concept of a transition to a green economy maintains the same extractive logic that causes States and the private sector to overlook the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples in pursuit of national interests.”
— “Indigenous Peoples in a greening economy” UN report.
Why this matters:
Despite their sustainable label, green energy projects can still lead to ecological damage that particularly affects indigenous communities. This includes the disruption of wildlife, water sources and plant life that are essential not only to the biodiversity of these regions but also to the cultural practices and survival of indigenous peoples.
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Photo by Bianca Fazacas on Unsplash
‘Really a sad day’ as Norway votes to allow deep-sea mining in Arctic waters
Norway’s parliament has officially voted to allow deep-sea mining to go forward in the Norwegian Sea, despite warnings from scientists and conservationists that it could damage the marine environment.
Photo by Rafael Garcin on Unsplash
China set to dominate deep-sea mining and grab treasure of rare metals
The ocean floor is shaping up to be the next theater of global resource competition, and China’s diplomatic efforts are positioning it to lead in deep-sea mining.
Newsletter
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Deep-sea mining could begin soon, regulated or not
Mining the seafloor could boost global production of clean energy technology—and destroy the ocean in the process
When deep-sea miners come a-courting
As the Cook Islands embraces the burgeoning industry, deep-sea mining companies are becoming part of the community’s day-to-day. Can the country avoid the mistakes of resource extraction’s past? Rachel Reeves writes for Hakai magazine.
In a nutshell:
The Cook Islands government is keenly interested in exploring seabed mining for polymetallic nodules as a potential source of revenue for the country's post-pandemic economy. The nodules are rich in the mission-critical minerals necessary for the anticipated global green energy transition. However, there are ongoing disagreements about the environmental impact of such mining activities on fragile marine ecosystem and biodiversity, as well as concerns about the potential release of harmful chemicals and toxic metals into the water during mining operations.
Key quote:
“I think everybody believes we have a climate change emergency. Do we want to wait 10 years or 15 or 20 years [to address it]? Maybe, but how much longer do we want to keep using oil and gas, keep polluting our atmosphere, and continuing to create huge climate change issues?”
Big picture:
"The fix" as the old saying goes, may already be in. After a period of intense courting and lavish spending by multiple mining interests, exploration licenses were granted to three deep-sea mining companies. Prime Minister Mark Brown, who, thanks to recent changes to the Seabed Minerals Act, is also the minister of minerals, has referred to the highly-prized nodules as "golden apples" and delivered a withering rebuke of anti-mining interests last November at COP 27. Although an official decision on whether to proceed with mining won't be finalized until a seemingly perfunctory exploratory phase is deemed complete, official posturing and signaling from a handpicked, pro-mining advisory board indicate that this is a fait accompli.
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Opinion
Image by Kristina Kasputienė from Pixabay
Wendy Schmidt and Kristina Gjerde: Mining companies are eager to dig up the ocean. That’s a dangerous idea
We already know the damage that mining can cause on land. It could be devastating to the deep sea.
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