Date: 19/04/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution, and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Key Phrases: Deep-Sea Mining, International Seabed Authority, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Mining code, The Metals Company, state-owned conglomerate Minmetals, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

Why in News?

• The push towards deep-sea mining has been a topic of intense debate in recent years, with proponents touting the potential benefits of the global transition to clean energy, and opponents warning of catastrophic environmental consequences.

The International Seabed Authority:

• The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a Kingston, Jamaica-based intergovernmental body of 167 member states and the European Union established under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• The ISA's dual mission is to authorize and control the development of mineral-related operations in the international seabed considered the "common heritage of all mankind" and also protect the ecosystem of the seabed, ocean floor, and subsoil in "The Area" beyond national jurisdiction.

Criticism:

• Critics say that its dual role as mining regulator and custodian of the seabed environment is contradictory and that the body has been leaning too far in the direction of corporate interests. They also say it lacks transparency and accountability, claims it denies.
• ISA members are currently drawing up a "mining code" that will allow mining activities in the deep sea to begin, but a loophole in its rules could allow it to start approving applications by as early as July.

Mining code:

• The "mining code" under the ISA refers to the set of rules, regulations, and procedures governing the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
• The mining code is designed to ensure that the activities related to mining in the international seabed area are conducted in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner and that the benefits of these activities are shared fairly among all nations.

The Metals Company:

• The Metals Company (TMC) has been at the forefront of efforts to begin deep-sea mining in the Pacific Ocean region known as the Clarion Clipperton Zone.
• It is partnering with the Pacific states of Nauru, Tonga, and Kiribati to explore deep-sea metals.
• The Canada-based company has downplayed concerns about the environmental impact of seabed mining, saying that the collection of "loose-lying" polymetallic rock on the ocean floor was far less destructive than conventional terrestrial mining.
• It also says on its website that "difficult trade-offs must be made if we are to meet metal demand for the clean energy transition".

Exploration licences:

• Nauru: The first to apply for deep-sea mining:
  • The tiny Pacific Island nation of Nauru is expected to be the first to apply to the ISA to begin mining.
  • Nauru expressed its intention to do so in 2021, triggering the so-called "two-year rule" loophole, which meant that it could gain permission to start exploitation activities this year even if the mining code is not complete.
• Other sponsoring nations:
  • As many as 31 exploration licenses have already been issued by the ISA, sponsored by a total of 14 nations.
  • As well as Nauru, Tonga, and Kiribati, they also include China, Russia, South Korea, India, Britain, France, Poland, Brazil, Japan, Jamaica, and Belgium.
• China:
  • China is a major proponent of deep-sea mining, with three entities currently holding exploration licenses issued by the ISA, including the state-owned conglomerate Minmetals.

Potential threats associated with deep-sea mining:

• Environmental impacts:
  • It causes significant environmental damage, including the destruction of deep-sea habitats and the release of pollutants into the marine environment.
• Loss of biodiversity:
  • Deep-sea ecosystems are some of the most diverse and poorly understood ecosystems on the planet, and deep-sea mining could result in the loss of species and the disruption of important ecological processes.
• Disruption of carbon storage:
  • Deep-sea sediments play an important role in the storage of carbon, and mining activities could disrupt this process, leading to increased carbon emissions.
• Uncertainty about the long-term effects:
  • Because deep-sea ecosystems are so poorly understood, there is a great deal of uncertainty about the long-term effects of mining activities on these ecosystems.
• Impacts on local communities:
  • Deep-sea mining could have significant impacts on the livelihoods and cultures of local communities that depend on the marine environment for their well-being.
• Economic risks:
  • Deep-sea mining is an expensive and risky enterprise, and there is no guarantee that it will be economically viable in the long term. If companies invest heavily in deep-sea mining and the industry fails to take off, it could lead to significant economic losses.

The opponents:

• As many as 14 countries have now called for a moratorium or suspension of all mining activities, including France, Germany, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Vanuatu.
• The Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition, which consists of more than 100 environmental groups (including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature) has also been campaigning to stop deep sea mining.

Conclusion:

• Finding a solution that balances the potential benefits of deep-sea mining with the need to protect marine ecosystems is complex, but possible through cooperation and responsible management.
• All stakeholders, including the ISA, mining companies, sponsoring nations, and opponents of deep-sea mining, must work together to create transparent, accountable, and environmentally sustainable regulations.
• With a commitment to innovation and responsible management, we can harness the mineral wealth of the deep sea to support the global transition to clean energy while safeguarding ocean biodiversity.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. What are the concerns associated with deep-sea mining and why are some countries and environmental groups opposing it?