A wave of action against deep sea mining is growing. 

In July 2024, the International Seabed Authority will meet for its 29th Session in Kingston, Jamaica. Pacific island states or “large ocean states” like Palau have been leading the charge at the ISA to pause and reconsider the current trajectory towards deep sea mining. And now over twenty-five countries have called for a pause, a moratorium, or an outright ban on the practice. 

In the third and final episode of this miniseries we welcome Palau’s President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. to discuss the reasons behind these decisions, why some states are eager to begin mining, and what’s at stake for the world. 

With thanks to President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau; and Kristina Gjerde, Senior High Seas Advisor to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

Investing For Ocean Impact is a Fresh Air Production on behalf of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. It is presented and produced by Phil Sansom. 

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of IUCN or Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

FURTHER READING:  

Report on the value of ecosystem services and natural capital of the Area, Brander and Guisado Gõni, 2023

Deep-Sea Mining: assessing evidence on future needs and environmental impacts, easac.eu, 2023 DSM and Human right implications, OHCHR, 2023

Equitable sharing of deep-sea mining benefits: More questions than answers (Wilde et al, 2023)

A pause to mining activity is consistent with the U.N. Law of the Sea, Pew, 2023

Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium - Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (deep-sea-conservation.org)