International Community Warns About gravity Threat to Humanity: Avoid Devolving into a "Lawless Frontier"
The world is watching as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) investigates the potential impacts of deep-sea mining, a controversial practice that could yield valuable minerals such as cobalt and zinc, essential for the production of technological products like batteries and solar panels.
Commercial deep-sea mining in international waters has not yet begun, but the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025 Report reveals that the ISA has granted 31 exploration mining contracts to 21 companies from 20 countries by 2024. Among these nations is China, which has already secured access to concessions for deep-sea mining in international waters, while the United States, not a member of the ISA, has recently approved an order regarding the granting of licenses in international waters for deep-sea mining.
Leticia Carvalho, director of the ISA, spoke about the topic with UN News, emphasizing that the United States is "going rogue" by not adhering to the international body's regulations. The UN, on the other hand, is drafting a marine code to protect the seabed and prevent it from becoming a site of unregulated exploitation.
The UN report warns that even after an international code is imposed, those engaged in deep-sea mining will still face severe challenges. The machines used in deep-sea mining can cause irreparable damage to the ocean, one of humanity's best allies in combating climate change. The devastation of marine species due to deep-sea mining could have a negative impact on the entire ocean food chain, potentially leading to the possible extinction of unique species.
Greenpeace lists on its website the 3 reasons why seabed mining poses a risk to Earth. If seabed habitats are destroyed by deep-sea mining, marine life would be altered on an unimaginable scale. The UN has also issued a warning about the danger of deep-sea mining, stating that it could pose a great danger to humanity.
Despite the potential risks, deep-sea mining requires high capital requirements and operating costs, which may deter companies from investing in the practice. No start date for the deployment of deep-sea mining has been set, giving the international community time to consider the potential consequences and find solutions to mitigate the environmental impact.
As the debate over deep-sea mining continues, it is crucial that all nations work together to ensure that any mining activities are conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner, protecting the health of our oceans and the future of marine life.
