Deep-Sea Mining Clash: Environment Vs. Critical Minerals

The deep ocean floor contains billions of polymetallic nodules—potato-sized rocks formed over millions of years that contain valuable minerals essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico holds an estimated 21 billion tonnes of these nodules, potentially worth trillions. The International Seabed Authority is advancing regulations that could permit commercial extraction as early as 2025, with companies like The Metals Company already conducting pilot tests. However, this development has sparked significant concern among scientists, with 88% believing deep-sea mining will cause irreversible ecosystem damage. These nodules grow at 1-10 millimeters per million years and host unique biodiversity, including species with potential medical applications. The debate encapsulates a critical dilemma: whether obtaining minerals for green technology justifies risking one of Earth's least understood ecosystems. This controversy involves complex questions of environmental protection, international governance, profit-sharing, indigenous perspectives, and technological alternatives like improved recycling and new battery chemistries.

https://www.ihadnoclue.com/article/1100448215652597761