Deep-Sea Mining: Climate isn't the only threat to marine life

Dilema.

The International Seabed Authority, a United Nations observer organization with 168 members that regulates deep-sea mining in international waters, will permit that companies start mining the ocean floor for metals used to make electric-vehicle batteries within the next year. Click here to see one interesting YouTube animation, narrated by MIT Professor Thomas Peacock demonstrating how a collector vehicle launched from a ship during deep-sea mining would operate 4k meters below sea level to collect polymetallic nodules containing essential minerals, like cobalt, nickel, manganese. By the way, a famous diamond companies already mine the African sea bed "Off Namibia, an underwater diamond harvest" as a short documentary by the French News Agency AFP.

These operations happen, despite broad concerns about the environmental impact of deep-sea mining. Here is a longer and more complete YouTube video by the German Deutsche Welle titled "Will deep-sea mining save us from climate change?" Additionally, there was a recent call by countries like Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, Palau and even France for a moratorium on ocean mining until there is a better understanding of the environmental consequences of these operations. Click here for a Bloomberg article discussing this moratorium movement.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), on its hand, is drawing up a final regulatory framework for deep-sea mining. Click on the image below to navigate the ISA website. https://www.isa.org.jm