Earth Responsibility Score (ERS)’s Post

The deep sea has emerged as a new mining frontier in the global race towards energy security, with countries vying to explore and exploit its reserves of metals, such as nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese. These minerals – critical to the energy transition – are held in the deep ocean’s nodules, hydrothermal vents and crusts, but the impacts of mining these deposits are still far from being fully understood. In 2021, the Pacific island state of Nauru triggered a legal process for countries to agree rules around mining the seabed, or – in their absence – allow commercial mining of the deep sea to begin by 2025. Since then, 31 countries have called for some form of a ban, moratorium or pause on deep sea mining in international waters until its impacts on the ocean, climate and biodiversity are properly investigated. #DeepSeaMining https://lnkd.in/gxnZG7FN

Do Greenpeace belong at the #UN table after such overt demonstration or is their voice more necessary than ever to be heard before we start trawling the ocean floor for minerals? Should The Metals Company be compelled to pause its plans, or does that risk giving further licence to #fossilfuel firms to maintain their levels of production? Considering all the harm caused by mining and refining on the land, can we allow this to be repeated unseen on the abyssal plain? https://lnkd.in/ekik78Xi

🌊 The Murky Future of Deep-Sea Mining 🌊 Deep-sea mining could soon become reality, promising essential minerals like cobalt and lithium for green technologies. However, according to Swiss Re Institute, this nascent industry faces significant unknowns and risks, from carbon release to biodiversity loss. As nations push for regulations, the call for a moratorium grows louder. Will the allure of the abyss lead to sustainable solutions or unforeseen consequences? 🌏🔍 #DeepSeaMining #Sustainability #Minerals #Environment #Innovation #Climaterisk https://lnkd.in/dmSjA4aK

Deep sea mining for extracting minerals from the ocean is a hot topic these days. The aim is to obtain minerals such as nickel, copper, and cobalt, all critical elements in #energytransition. As usual, Carbon Brief does a terrific job at explaining what are the implications of #deepseamining on #climatechange and marine #biodiversity. “The deep sea has emerged as a new mining frontier in the global race towards energy security, with countries vying to explore and exploit its reserves of metals, such as nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese. These minerals – critical to the energy transition – are held in the deep ocean’s nodules, hydrothermal vents and crusts, but the impacts of mining these deposits are still far from being fully understood. In 2021, the Pacific island state of Nauru triggered a legal process for countries to agree rules around mining the seabed, or – in their absence – allow commercial mining of the deep sea to begin by 2025. Since then, 31 countries have called for some form of a ban, moratorium or pause on deep sea mining in international waters until its impacts on the ocean, climate and biodiversity are properly investigated. Companies, such as BMW, Volvo and Renault, have joined this groundswell and are increasingly distancing themselves from deep-sea mining, along with banks such as Credit Suisse, ABN Amro and the European Investment Bank. At the same time, 20 countries already hold 30 exploration contracts in areas beyond national boundaries, while countries such as Norway have supported deep-sea mining in their domestic waters. As the International Seabed Authority meets in Kingston, Jamaica for another round of critical talks on deep-sea mining, Carbon Brief unpacks what mining could mean for climate change and biodiversity.” The article answers questions such as: ✅What is deep-sea mining? ✅What is the state of deep-sea mining around the world? ✅What does deep-sea mining mean for climate change? ✅How does it impact global marine biodiversity and coastal communities? https://lnkd.in/dgW7c549

Did you know there's a region of the Pacific Ocean seabed that contains: . . . 10 years of the world’s needs of copper? 100 years of the world’s needs of nickel? 350 years of the world’s needs of manganese? 450 years of the world’s needs of cobalt? And, this week, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is meeting amid rising calls for a regulatory code on #mining those resources. On the one hand, seabed mining could provide access to essential #metals vital for renewable energy technologies, which could help accelerate the global transition to clean energy. On the other hand, the risks are significant. The deep ocean is a fragile and poorly understood ecosystem. Mining could disrupt marine life, cause irreversible damage, and potentially lead to the loss of unknown species. The long-term environmental impacts are uncertain to say the least. The ISA must create a robust regulatory framework to balance these risks and opportunities. This is a pivotal moment to safeguard our oceans and the future of our planet. To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/ezrr-qkP #MiningIndustry #Engineering #ClimateChange

I watched an ARTE documentary last night 'Greenland: Agriculture or Mining?', showing how the warming #arctic makes much-wanted minerals like nickel, gold, iron, zinc, uranium, etc more accessible. The local communities are facing pressure to allow mining, OR, take advantage of the milder #climate to scale up domestic agriculture. In the report, an Australian mining company is mentioned, with its eyes wide on uranium, which is opposed by many locals due to the likely environmental impact AND the fact that the mine would only provide jobs for 37 years. I researched the issue further today and discovered that the Chinese-linked Australian mining company 'Greenland Minerals A/S' has now actually sued the Greenland government, demanding either a mining license, or compensation of up to $11.5 billion for lost revenue. Arctic Business Journal reports: "In 2021, the government in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, passed legislation to ban uranium mining in Greenland, and this summer Greenland Minerals was refused a mining license for its Kvanefjeld project at Kuannersuit mountain. The rare earths in the area are commingled with uranium, and mining would inevitably bring the latter to the surface, a result the Greenland’s government is determined to prevent." This is not an isolated case of powerful mining companies suing governments that choose planetary health and societal wellbeing over extractive mining for short term profits. These degenerative companies are the school-ground bullies on the global scale, responsible for ongoing destruction of our planet and subsequent impact on human health and wellbeing. Here's the article: https://lnkd.in/ehmH8Mg4 Here's the ARTE doco: https://lnkd.in/erNA6h5F

The ocean depths are the least studied ecosystem on the planet. Many funds are needed to conduct studies at 3,4, or 5 thousand meters below sea level. And access to these regions is far from easy. 📌 It is mainly because of this lack of data and understanding that the scientific community, by a very large majority, is calling for a halt on the development of deep-sea mining.  ⛏️ Deep sea mining activities aim to collect the precious minerals for the transition concentrated on the bottom in some areas of the planet, in the form of cobalt crusts or polymetallic nodules.  👉 But the environmental impact of these mines is unknown and difficult to estimate.  🔎 A new scientific research adds a new reason to believe that extracting lithium, zinc, manganese and other minerals from the abysses cannot be an operation without consequences for the delicate balances of those ecosystems. ⬇️ Link in the first comment #RinnovabiliNET #environmnent #greeneconomy #solar #eolic #energy #greenenergy #solarenergy #windenergy #sustainable #sustainablity #sustainabledevelopment

Copper is vital for the green energy transition, and as demand rises, companies are exploring the potential of marine minerals. The world is going through a major transition towards digitisation, electrification, and green energy. Why go to the deep sea for copper? Copper has been mined by men since the stone age; it is the most important raw material in the industrial age. Marine minerals have been the source of copper from ophiolite complexes during the entire time; it has just been mined on land after continental drift has placed them above sea level and shuffled them around a bit, and temperature and pressure have metamorphosed the rocks. We now have the knowledge and technology to go where they form. Some have expressed concerns about deep-sea mining, but mining raw materials in locations where we will get the most metal-per-kg of rock with the least environmental impact must be considered. Extinct seafloor massive sulphide deposits along mid-ocean ridges show the potential of discoveries in the magnitude of 10s Mt of ore with Cu grades of 4-6% and potential of byproducts such as cobalt. Ståle Monstad Green Minerals CEO & Head of Exploration Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eNaSu3kG #copper #criticalminerals #criticalrawmaterials #mining #deepseamining

An interesting CNBC article this week examines the tension between the increasing demand for minerals, the vast potential in seabed minerals, and the need to protect marine ecosystems. Michael Lodge, secretary-general of the UN's International Seabed Authority (ISA), believes deep-sea mining could soon become a reality due to global interest in the industry and the potential for cost-effective mineral production. The conundrum lies in the juxtaposition of the insufficient supply of energy transition minerals needed to transform the energy sector and the uncertainty about the full environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. Multinationals such as Google, Samsung, and Volvo have pledged not to source minerals from the seabed. The article delves into the conflicting pressures of advancing the energy transition without accelerating biodiversity loss. The ISA plans to establish a regulatory framework for commercial-scale deep-sea mining, but environmental groups argue it cannot be sustainable and will lead to ecosystem destruction and species extinction. Definitely worth a read. #SustainabilityCommunication #Mining #Regulation #Environment #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #BiodiversityLoss

In light of the recent article about U.S. lawmakers pushing for funding in deep-sea mining to lessen reliance on China for critical minerals, it's time we consider the Earth Responsibility Score (ERS) in our discussions. Deep-sea mining, while offering an alternative source of essential minerals for industries like EV batteries and weaponry, raises significant environmental concerns. The introduction of the Responsible Use of Seafloor Resources Act emphasizes the need for diversification in sourcing critical minerals but also highlights the environmental and social implications of such actions. As professionals, we must balance innovation and environmental stewardship. Let's advocate for comprehensive assessments of environmental impacts and promote responsible mining practices. #SustainableBusiness #DeepSeaMining #EnvironmentalImpact #Innovation #CriticalMinerals