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| Deep-sea mining maybe step closer to reality |
Environmental groups warn that this will lead to a
destructive rush on the mineral-rich seabed "nodules" sought
by the mining companies.
But United Nations officials overseeing deep-sea
mining say no venture underwater can start for years.
So what's causing concern?
It's all about a letter that refers to the
small print of an international treaty that has far-reaching implications.
Nauru, an island state in the Pacific
Ocean, has called on the International Seabed Authority - a UN body that oversees
the ocean floor - to speed up the regulations that will govern deep-sea mining.
It's activated a seemingly obscure
sub-clause in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that allows countries to
pull a 'two-year trigger' if they feel negotiations are going too slowly.
It says that it stands to lose most from
climate change so it wants to encourage access to the small rocks known as
nodules that lie on the sea bed.
That's because they're rich in cobalt and
other valuable metals that could be useful for batteries and renewable energy
systems in the transition away from fossil fuels.
Why could this matter?
If the ISA does not manage to settle the
rules for mining within two years, it may issue Nauru with provisional approval
to go ahead - and no one knows what that could mean.
"This could really open the
floodgates," Matthew Gianni of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition told
me.
"If Nauru and DeepGreen get a
provisional license, any number of other companies or states could trigger the
two-year rule too and then the whole process descends into utter chaos.
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| Deep-sea mining maybe step closer to reality |
What does the International Seabed Authority say?
In an interview with the BBC, the
authority's secretary-general Michael Lodge played down the implications of
Nauru's move, saying that there's still a long way to go before any mining can
start.
He said the Council of the ISA had agreed
back in 2017 to finalize the regulations for mining by 2020 - a plan that was
derailed by Covid-19.
If Nauru and its partner DeepGreen are
ready to apply for a mining license in two years, there would be a
series of hurdles before approval could be given - including an environmental
impact assessment and plans to minimize the damage.
"Even under the current draft
regulations," Mr. Lodge told me, "any application for exploitation is
likely to be a lengthy process that has multiple checks and balances."
Where does this leave the deep ocean?
Scientists say they're far from gaining a
complete understanding of the ecosystems in the abyssal plains - but already
know they're far more vibrant and complex than previously thought.
The nodules, a habitat for countless forms
of life, are estimated to have formed over several million years so any
recovery from mining will be incredibly slow.
Also, what's still unknown is the effect
of the plumes of sediment that will be stirred up by the giant machines and are
likely to drift over vast distances underwater.
Researching this question is a complex
and slow task - and is unlikely to be fully answered within the two-year period
initiated by Nauru.
So Andrew Friedman of The Pew Charitable
Trusts is among those fearful of "fast-tracking" the approvals
process.
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| Deep-sea mining maybe step closer to reality |
So what's next?
Jessica Battle of WWF says a moratorium is
essential to have a proper evaluation of the risks.
"We really need to put a brake on all
this, in particular until there's enough time for the science to help make an
informed decision."
She's less worried about the prospects of
actual mining starting in two years' time - given that mining machines still
aren't ready - and more about what might happen in the rush to get the
regulations finalized.
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