{"id":270457,"date":"2022-07-28T10:30:57","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T14:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/issues\/a-green-transition-should-prioritize-the-oceans-carbon-sinks-over-deep-sea-mining\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T23:59:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T03:59:32","slug":"a-green-transition-should-prioritize-the-oceans-carbon-sinks-over-deep-sea-mining","status":"publish","type":"issues","link":"https:\/\/policyoptions.irpp.org\/fr\/2022\/07\/a-green-transition-should-prioritize-the-oceans-carbon-sinks-over-deep-sea-mining\/","title":{"rendered":"A green transition should prioritize the ocean’s carbon sinks over deep-sea mining"},"content":{"rendered":"

The electrification of our livelihoods, in particular the development of electric vehicles, will require massive amounts of minerals<\/a> including nickel, cobalt and manganese, which are all found in huge quantities on the seafloor. Deep-seabed mining (DSM) could not only help scale up the supply of minerals needed for phasing out of fossil fuels<\/a> but also prevent some of the destructive fallout<\/a> of future land-based mining.<\/p>\n

Yet, as the International Seabed Authority (ISA<\/a>) is entering the final round of negotiations over its seabed mining code, major concerns and uncertainties<\/a> remain about this emerging extractive sector. Renewed geopolitical concerns over the supply of critical materials<\/a> and the disruption of markets <\/a>for battery metals by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine have exacerbated debates over DSM.<\/p>\n

An abundant supply of metals<\/a> found on the seafloor and on seamounts \u2013 \u00a0underwater sea mountains raising from the floor \u2013 could accelerate an energy transition away from fossil fuels. However, deep-sea mining presents major risks for ocean sustainability, including marine ecosystems<\/a>, and has potential to bring havoc to some of the ocean\u2019s blue carbon systems<\/a> \u2013 the core of the Earth\u2019s carbon capture and sequestration system. DSM could also undermine the economy<\/a> of current mineral producers. Complex and cumulative environmental and social changes<\/a> must be considered.<\/p>\n

Strategic metals and the ocean<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the beginning of March, the London Metal Exchange suspended nickel trading<\/a> after a 250 per cent price surge in two days. This was precipitated by Russia\u2019s military invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the Western block. However, the threat of supply chain disruptions also affected the cobalt market.<\/p>\n

Both metals are commonly found in deep-sea polymetallic nodules deposits (Figure 1 below). In the Pacific Ocean, the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) alone holds an estimated 270 million tonnes of nickel and 44 million tonnes of cobalt \u2013 respectively three and five times<\/a> the known land-based reserves.<\/p>\n

The DSM industry\u2019s economic potential seems unrivaled in the world of mineral extraction because it offers untapped reserves and is backed by an international governance framework. This has potential to reduce supply concerns, geopolitical risks<\/a>, resource nationalism<\/a> and opposition by local communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Still, it is vulnerable to delays from regulations, arbitration and environmental campaigns. Additionally, there are concerns<\/a> of monopolistic behaviours and a privatization of the ocean commons because the DSM sector is largely dominated by a handful of countries and companies. This exacerbates international tensions and grievances by riparian communities and environmental groups.<\/p>\n