Brazil officials have called for a 10-year moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters, citing the need for caution in the lack of established guidelines.
This call came during a recent conference hosted by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a United Nations agency responsible for regulating deep-sea mining.
Brazil Requests a 10-Year Deep Sea Ban
The agency failed to meet the July 9 deadline for approving the governing framework, leaving companies and countries in limbo as they had just been allowed to apply for provisional licenses.
As debates around the environmental impact of deep sea mining intensify, Brazil supports prioritizing the protection of the international seabed and conducting comprehensive studies before proceeding further.
The ISA has not yet issued any provisional licenses nor received any applications, although Nauru plans to apply soon through the Canadian-based Metals Co.
The Pacific island nation expressed its intention to diversify its economy but pledged not to sponsor an application during the ongoing UN conference.
Despite this decision, Nauru emphasized that it remains committed to pursuing deep-sea mining in the future.
These developments have raised questions about the future of deep-sea mining and prompted discussions about the next steps.
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Environmental Concerns and Growing Support for a Pause
Many countries and companies, including prominent brands like BMW and Volvo, advocate for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.
They raise concerns about the potential environmental damage caused by extracting precious metals used in electric car batteries and other green technologies.
Scientists have warned about the risks of dust storms, light pollution, and noise pollution associated with deep-sea mining.
They also highlight the slow rate at which minerals form at such depths, emphasizing the need for comprehensive scientific studies.
However, proponents argue that deep sea mining is cheaper and has a lesser impact than land mining, while some countries view it as an opportunity for economic growth and diversification.
Brazil’s representative to the ISA, Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, voiced support for a precautionary pause of at least 10 years.
According to her, safeguarding the international seabed should be prioritized until conclusive and comprehensive studies are available.
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