Seabed mining in the Pacific is environmentally and economically vital
REPUBLIC
OF NAURU
Government
Information Office
EDITORIAL
For Immediate Release
Monday, 8 June 2020
Seabed mining in the Pacific is
environmentally and economically vital
Editorial By:
Margo Deiye: Ambassador, Permanent
Representative to the Republic of Nauru to the International Seabed
Authority
Alex Herman: Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals
Commissioner
Taaniela Kula: Deputy Secretary, Ministry of
Lands & Natural Resources, Kingdom of Tonga
The challenge presented by climate change is
monumental, and few understand this better than Pacific small
island developing states.
Despite our negligible contribution to
global emissions, our people are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts
of climate change. Rising seas and more frequent extreme weather
have left the future of our blue economies in the balance.
As we celebrate World Ocean Day, we reaffirm
our intent to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, while also
recognising the part it plays in our future economic viability. As
states whose history has been shaped by responsible stewardship of
the ocean, seabed mining is a welcome and exciting development.
Polymetallic nodules, found on the ocean
floor, can assist with the world's paramount challenge of
transitioning away from fossil fuels, by delivering a timely and
effective energy transition that is more environmentally, socially
and economically responsible.
Mining on land has in many cases had a
devastating environmental impact, and while it is understandable
that some will question the impact of seabed mining in the same
way, after researching and understanding the facts we now know
there are significant differences between the two.
Seabed mining is a far more "greener" option
for our region and the world and should be embraced by everyone who
cares about the climate future of our planet. It will usher in a
new era of metals recycling.
The World Bank recently forecast that demand
for the metals underpinning renewable energy and electric vehicles
will increase by up to 500 per cent by 2050, warning that current
recycling cannot meet this net new demand. So where should these
metals come from?
On land, falling ore grades and the need to
dig deeper and harder for lower quality ores brings severe
environmental, social and economic costs. Polymetallic nodules, on
the other hand, sit unattached on the ocean floor and contain
nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese; key metals required for our
transition to the green economy in quantities and grades long since
extinguished on land.
It is appropriate that Pacific small
islands, who have always relied on the ocean for resources, now
have the opportunity to participate in the deep-sea minerals
industry to assist with future economic sustainability.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) is the 'constitution for the oceans', and
established the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to administer
and manage the deep-sea mineral resources beyond national
jurisdiction.
For the first time in history, an extractive
industry regime will aim to alleviate some of the economic
disparities that exist between the Global North and the Global
South. The regime empowers developing states by setting aside
exclusive areas for our development and in the future will
re-distribute the financial benefits of our common heritage,
especially for developing states.
While exercising the precautionary
principle, this regime also emphasises marine scientific research,
training, technology transfer and capacity building, particularly
amongst women. Never before in history has an industry been set up
with such forethought to mitigate the imbalances that exist in our
world.
We are proud that Pacific nations have been
leaders in the deep-sea minerals industry from the start. Nauru was
the first developing state to sponsor activity in international
waters, followed by the Kingdom of Tonga, Kiribati and the Cook
Islands. The Pacific now has the largest group of developing states
participating in this collaborative global effort.
We are people of the ocean, and we
understand better than most how important it is to use its
resources in a responsible way. The ocean has always supported us,
and we will not do anything to impact its ability to continue to
support our cultures and our Pacific way of life.
The deep-sea minerals industry is currently
in the exploration phase. No extraction has occurred, and none will
occur until further extensive environmental studies are completed.
More area has been set aside for conservation than will be licensed
for extraction. The ISA has engaged some of the world's best
deep-sea specialists and oceanographers to contribute to the
development of the regulations that contractors must follow.
The ISA requirements are comprehensive and
the scope and detail that is required is considered to be far
greater than would generally be required by regulators for any
land-based mining activity.
Unlike on land, where individual states
regulate and manage their resources as they see fit, the ISA and
its member states will manage these resources as the 'Common
Heritage of Mankind', on behalf of everyone on Earth. It is a
unique and unparalleled governance structure.
Rising oceans and economic limitations
collide across the Pacific. To transition to a carbon-free future,
the world requires significant amounts of metals, and we believe
that polymetallic nodules are a key part of the solution.
While developed states possess a broad range
of climate change mitigation and economic strategies, options for
our small island developing states are far narrower, and for our
futures to be secure, we once again look to the ocean.
ENDS////
Circulated
by:
Nauru
Government Information Office, Republic of NAURU
Ph: +(674)
557 3009 E: gio@mail.gov.nr /
naurugovinfo@gmail.com /
www.naurugov.nr (mpr)