In a move that has stirred the controversial deep-sea mining sector, the UK announced on Monday that it would suspend its support and sponsorship of deep-sea mining licenses until there's sufficient scientific evidence to assess its impact on ecosystems. The UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs stated that it would neither support nor sponsor mining licenses in British waters until "adequate" scientific evidence is obtained. However, exploration can still proceed.
Additionally, the UK will initiate a new network of deep-sea mining environmental scientists to gather data and deepen understanding of the impacts of deep-sea mining.
To date, at least 20 countries globally, including major economies like France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, and Chile, have publicly stated a full ban or suspension on deep-sea mining. In the business sector, car manufacturers like BMW and Volvo, as well as car battery manufacturer Samsung, have pledged not to use deep-sea minerals for the time being.
Conversely, countries like Norway, Russia, and Mexico are pushing forward with deep-sea mining. Just four months ago, Norway announced a new plan to open its national waters for deep-sea mining.
As the global economy transitions to greener practices, the demand for key minerals like copper, nickel, and cobalt, essential for electric vehicles, continues to surge. Deep-sea mining is seen as a potential solution to the global shortage of these crucial raw materials and a way to reduce dependence on a few countries with rich land reserves.
The Core of the Controversy
The primary contention surrounding deep-sea mining revolves around its environmental impact. Mining companies in favor argue that ocean mining is cheaper and less environmentally damaging than land-based mining. Opponents, however, believe that mining, especially on an industrial scale, has potential unknown effects on marine environments, possibly causing irreversible harm to marine life.
Currently, deep-sea mining remains legal. Companies can still apply for exploration and mining contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), provided they receive sponsorship from governments approved by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This remains the only permitted form of commercial contract. However, with growing controversies, the chances of new applications being approved in the short term seem slim. The ISA states it's striving to balance the interests of green transition groups and environmentalists.
To date, the ISA has issued over 30 exploration licenses to countries including the UK, France, China, Russia, South Korea, India, Poland, Brazil, Japan, and Jamaica. According to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, China holds five such licenses, the most of any country.
In the UK, which recently hit the pause button, companies hold two exploration licenses, with the total exploration area being the largest globally. The contract holder, UK Seabed Resources, currently has rights to explore over 130,000 square kilometers of the Pacific seabed. Previously controlled by American defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the company was recently sold to Norway's Loke Marine Minerals. The UK's Sunak government had previously supported the sponsorship of exploration licenses, a stance criticized by the opposition Labour Party and many scientists.
Global Stance and Future Implications
Large-scale commercial deep-sea mining has not yet commenced, with only a small portion of the seabed explored. Exploration is primarily focused on the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone between Hawaii and Mexico, covering 4.5 million square kilometers with depths ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 meters.
The timing of the UK's policy reversal coincides with the opening of a new round of ISA meetings. Starting on Monday, the ISA Council convened a week-long meeting in Jamaica to continue negotiations on deep-sea mining issues. At the last meeting held in July, while no green light was given for industrial-scale mining, no agreement was reached on a ban or suspension either. However, the 168 member states agreed to discuss the suspension next year.
According to British media, during this meeting, "China wanted deep-sea mining to continue, blocking the discussion motion to suspend mining throughout, but eventually agreed to include it in the 2024 agenda."
In response, a spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry stated that the topic of suspending deep-sea mining activities proposed by certain countries was not included in the general assembly agenda due to procedural rules. China is willing to continue supporting the ISA's work, promoting sustainable deep-sea activities and effective protection of the deep-sea environment based on science and relevant rules.
Several Chinese marine and energy experts told the Global Times in September that countries like China, the US, Russia, Canada, and Japan have advantages in seabed mining resources. China's seabed exploration and mining technology are among the world's best, with exploration already underway in the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean's international waters.
The ISA, a UN-backed organization responsible for regulating deep-sea mining in international waters, has been trying to establish a set of deep-sea mining regulations over the past decade. However, it seems there's still a considerable distance from reaching an agreement.
Fiona Nicholls, a UK marine activist with Greenpeace, commented that within a few short years, the UK has shifted from "proudly sponsoring" deep-sea mining to suspending support, indicating a "turning tide for the industry."
