Five nations add to growing concerns about deep sea mining at key international meeting

Tuvalu, Austria, Honduras, Guatemala and Malta have all added their calls for a pause or moratorium on deep sea mining at key talks in Jamaica.

More than 30 nations are now calling for a halt to the start of deep sea mining, with five new announcements in support of a precautionary pause or a moratorium coming in the past 48 hours at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) negotiations in Jamaica. 

Tuvalu, which had previously sponsored deep sea mining exploration, joined Austria, Honduras, Guatemala, Malta in announcing new strengthened positions, bringing the total to 32 nations across the Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The previous UK government declared support for a moratorium in October 2023.

More governments have attended these global negotiations than ever before, including the President of Palau and multiple ministers in a sign of the increasing political prominence and public interest in deep sea mining. There is added urgency with the Metals Company threatening to submit an application to start commercial mining in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.

Addressing the ISA with two of his children, President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau said: “Let us not leave Jamaica having granted the mining industry a license to colonise the common heritage of humankind and destroy our greatest ally in our fight against climate change – our ocean.” 

Last year, the Labour Party announced its support for a precautionary pause on deep sea mining. Greenpeace UK is calling for the new government to speak out on the world stage against this destructive industry and to support a strong General Policy to protect the marine environment that could pave the way to a formal moratorium next year.

Briony Venn, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “The tide is turning against deep sea mining as we discover more about the incredible wonders of the deep and the threats posed by mining the seabed. The UK must use its position on the world stage to speak out against this destructive industry and push other countries to join in calling for a global moratorium.”

For the first time, delegates formally discussed a General Policy to protect the marine environment, which could provide the pathway to a formal pause or moratorium on deep sea mining. A year ago, a group of pro-mining countries [1] successfully blocked this discussion, but a renewed proposal backed by even more nations this year resulted in an agreement to keep discussions going with the aim of deciding next steps when the meeting concludes on Friday. 

Monise Laafai, a member of parliament for Tuvalu, in announcing support for a precautionary pause on Tuesday, said: “The protection of a sacred ocean is not a technical mandate but rather a moral responsibility for us. Similar worldviews are shared by other Indigenous Peoples; the ocean is not just a resource but a foundation of life, culture, and sustenance that underpins and connects our relationship together. The potential environmental degradation caused by deep sea mining could severely impact our food security, disrupt our traditional practices, and undermine our cultural heritage.”

Last week, the publication of a groundbreaking study revealing that the polymetallic nodules that mining companies want to extract may be producing oxygen in the deep ocean made a strong impact at the meeting. Several nations made reference to this study to underline the need for precaution, while the Metals Company which part-funded the study disputed its findings in a side event.

The meeting is due to conclude tomorrow (Friday 2 August) when delegates will vote for the next Secretary General [2].

Ends

Download photos of Pacific leaders holding a banner outside the ISA conference centre in Kingston, Jamaica HERE

Notes to editors:

[1] China, México and Nauru (who sponsors The Metals Company) opposed the inclusion of a general policy in the additional agenda items in July 2023. This week, México spoke in favour of developing a general policy.

[2] PRACTICE IN THE ELECTIONS OF SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 

Media contacts:

• UK queries: Kai Tabacek – +44 (0)7970 030 019 / kai.tabacek@greenpeace.org 
• Global queries: Sol Gosetti, Media Coordinator for the Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign, Greenpeace International: sol.gosetti@greenpeace.org, +44 (0) 07807352020 WhatsApp +44 (0) 7380845754