A New Treaty and the Deep – Sea Mining Dilemma

A newly ratified treaty aimed at safeguarding marine life is set to heighten opposition to deep – sea mining at this week’s United Nations climate summit in New York, concurrent with the leaders’ general assembly.

The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, will come into force in January next year. Morocco’s ratification on Friday, making it the 60th nation to do so, met the UN treaty’s threshold. Spanning two decades in development, the pact enables the establishment of extensive conservation zones in international waters, with the objective of protecting 30% of the ocean and halting biodiversity loss by 2030.

Though the treaty doesn’t directly mention mining, it obliges governments to collaborate with agencies like the International Seabed Authority (ISA) based in Jamaica. The ISA has yet to approve commercial mining in international waters. Environmentalists hailed this as a significant breakthrough. Lisa Speer of the Natural Resources Defense Council called it a once – in – a – generation conservation opportunity, and Kirsten Schuijt of WWF International deemed it a turning point for the two – thirds of the world’s ocean beyond national jurisdiction.

Countries’ Push for Deep – Sea Mining Despite Backlash

Despite environmentalist opposition, countries are pressing ahead with plans to extract minerals from the ocean floor. Immediately after the treaty reached the ratification milestone, India signed a 15 – year contract with the ISA, obtaining exclusive rights to explore polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean. India now holds the largest ISA – assigned exploration zone for these deposits and has conducted deep – sea trials in the region. It is also seeking exploration licences for nickel, manganese, and copper in the Pacific Ocean.

France is the only G7 nation to have ratifi...