Countries are increasingly echoing that concern: Canada, Australia and Belgium among others have insisted international marine mining cannot begin without stricter regulations.
On Friday, Marcelino Miranda, Mexico’s representative, insisted that “the conditions do not exist to begin the exploitation of the seabed.”
Other nations – they include France, Germany, Chile and Vanuatu – are pushing more explicitly for a “moratorium” or “pause” on exploitation.
Vanuatu representative Sylvain Kalasakau said during the talks, “Deep-sea mining will go beyond damaging the seabed and have a wide-ranging impact on fish populations, marine mammals and the essential function of deep-sea ecosystems in regulating the climate “
“We encourage our fellow Pacific states that have expressed interest in deep-sea mining to step back from the brink.”
Nauru, impatient with the pace of progress, invoked a clause in June 2021 to demand that a mining code be adopted within two years.
Once this deadline is reached, on 9 July, the government of Nauru can request a mining contract for NORI (Nauru Ocean Resources), a subsidiary of The Metals Company of Canada.
But without a code, the 36-member council is divided on the process of reviewing an application for a mining contract – and it looked on course to part ways without agreement, leading to further talks on the matter AFP With the draft called by .
Pradeep Singh, fellow at the Research Institute for Sustainability in Potsdam and law of the sea expert, said the “continued uncertainty” is causing a lot of concern here.
