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This week we’re digging deep on why we maybe shouldn’t be digging into the depths of the ocean.
Olivia covers the basics of deep sea mining, the potential “climate bomb” that could be set in July, and how we can amplify the work of activists and experts calling for a moratorium.
Action Items:
- Keep an eye out for news about deep sea mining and the International Seabed Authority (See links below for reputable sources!)
- Follow #LookDown and @look_Down_Action and check their Linktree to keep up with actions and initiatives, specifically in countries that are close to signing on to the moratorium, like Mexico and Switzerland.
Sources:
Leader of International Seabed Mining Agency Admonished by Diplomats, New York Times, March 19, 2023
Camille Etienne & Lucas Bravo Instagram video for the #LookDown campaign
Oceanographer Sylvia Earle on the Dangers of Deep-Sea Mining, NowThis Earth, March 4, 2021
Should We Mine the Deep-Sea?, How to Save a Planet, October 2022
A farewell from the Editor: It’s science fiction, until it isn’t., DSM Observer
International Seabed Authority
Marine Expert Statement Calling for a Pause to Deep-Sea Mining
More on Nauru:
Secret Data, Tiny Islands and a Quest for Treasure on the Ocean Floor, New York Times, August 30, 2022
Meet Nauru, Once the World’s Richest Island, Now With 90% Unemployment, The Atlantic, June 17, 2011
In short, experts agree that too little is known about the dangers of seabed mining for it to proceed safely, while a growing number assert that its risks vastly outweigh its potential benefits. The world’s clean-energy needs can be met with land-based mining, they argue, or better yet through technological innovation and dramatically improved recycling infrastructure that could significantly reduce the need for most mining in the first place.
Deep-sea mining could begin next year. Here’s why ocean experts are calling for a moratorium, Grist, March 2022
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