Under the Atlantic Ocean off Key Largo, Florida, on September 23, 2021 (AFP/Archives/CHANDAN KHANNA)
In the face of fierce resistance from supporters of deep-sea mining, opponents of this controversial activity suffered a setback on Friday at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), failing to take a first step toward a potential moratorium.
Until now, countries supporting the industrial exploitation of the ocean floor had always managed to prevent even a simple formal discussion on this topic at the ISA assembly, where its 168 member states are represented.
This time, the debate did take place. However, the draft decision initiating a « dialogue » toward the « development of a general policy (…) on the protection and preservation of the marine environment » did not succeed despite a week of negotiations in Kingston.
Many delegations, from China to Saudi Arabia to the African group, denounced the lack of clarity in the text and argued that the assembly was not the place for this type of decision, which should be the responsibility of the Council — which consists of only 36 states.
In the face of this opposition, Chile ultimately withdrew its proposal, despite being weakened, at the very end of the assembly’s annual meeting, which traditionally decides by consensus.
« We wish to express our disappointment, » said Chilean representative Salvador Vega Telias. Still believing to have the support of a majority of states, he wished to postpone the issue to July 2025, which was also not approved by the assembly.
Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), based in Jamaica, is tasked with both protecting the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdictions and organizing mineral-related activities there.
Its council, which currently only grants exploration contracts, has been negotiating a mining code for more than ten years to establish rules for the potential exploitation of nickel, cobalt, or copper, which some industries claim are essential for the energy transition, particularly for electric vehicle batteries.
However, for the past year, despite the absence of rules, any state can submit a request for an exploitation contract on behalf of a company it sponsors.
Nauru, a small Pacific island state that triggered a legal clause in 2021 leading to this situation, assured a few days ago that the file of Nori (Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.), a subsidiary of the Canadian company The Metals Company, which wants to exploit polymetallic nodules in the Pacific, was « being finalized. »
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The « responsible development of seabed minerals » is « a necessity for our survival in a rapidly changing world, » insisted Nauru’s President David Adeang this week, calling on the Council to complete the mining code in 2025, as planned by the roadmap.
Highlighting the lack of scientific knowledge and the risks to the seabed, ocean defenders argue instead for a moratorium on industrial extraction.
They arrived at this meeting bolstered by a scientific study published in July, which concluded that polymetallic nodules, which are not living organisms, produce oxygen.
But they are still far from being a majority, even though more than 30 countries (France, Canada, Chile, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Palau…) now support a genuine moratorium.
« The demands from civil society and politicians to prevent seabed mining from harming the oceans have never been stronger, » Louisa Casson of Greenpeace told AFP on Friday.
But faced with the « threat » of a contract application from Nori, « it is clear governments must act more urgently at the ISA to turn words into action, » added the disappointed activist.
In this context, NGOs nonetheless welcomed the election on Friday of Brazilian oceanographer Leticia Carvalho as the new Secretary-General of the ISA.
She will replace the controversial Michael Lodge starting in January 2025, who was seeking a third four-year term. The Briton is regularly accused by NGOs of having a « pro-extraction » stance, accusations he considers unfounded.
« This is a new chapter, » celebrated the NGO coalition Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, calling for a « reform » of the Authority, « for the good of humanity. »
Source: ABC Bourse
