The 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), held in Nice this June, served as a rallying point for the growing global opposition to deep-sea mining. Today, 37 countries officially support a precautionary moratorium on the launch of this controversial industry. These efforts must now move from declarations to tangible outcomes, especially as the 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) gets underway. This meeting is of critical importance, as Canadian company The Metals Company (TMC) has submitted the first application for deep-sea mining in international waters—attempting to bypass existing regulatory frameworks by applying through the United States.
François Chartier, Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace France, stated:
“Following the UN summit in June, the goal is now to follow through by negotiating the actual implementation of a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining. This is essential, not only for the basic protection of deep-sea ecosystems, but also to stand firm against those who seek to undermine the foundations of international law.”
Last month in Nice, France reaffirmed its strong position on protecting the deep ocean. The French Ambassador for the Ocean, Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, warned that any mining operation outside the legal framework set by the ISA would be considered illegal. French President Emmanuel Macron also declared that, as the common heritage of humanity, “the ocean is not for sale.” This message was echoed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned that “the deep sea must not become the Wild West.”
At a ministerial meeting in Vigo, Spain on June 26, member states of the OSPAR Convention (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism by rejecting Donald Trump’s support for TMC, which contradicts international maritime law.
Greenpeace is calling on ISA member states to support the adoption of a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining. France, in particular, must now take the lead by proposing concrete measures and intensifying diplomatic efforts to rally more countries and secure a sufficient level of support.
