The Australian Labor Party has announced its support for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining, ahead of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) assembly due to take place in Kingston, Jamaica, this week.
Greenpeace says the commitment, agreed under the platform’s third chapter which covers climate and environment, outlines that the federal government will “ensure the Australian Government leads ambitious international efforts for global agreements on a moratorium on deep–sea mining in international waters”.
As Mining.com.au reported, deep-sea mining has become the focus of an ongoing debate over whether it should proceed.
Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting mineral deposits from the ocean floor, typically at depths greater than 200m. Materials extracted from the ocean floor are considered essential building blocks for electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels.
The future of deep-sea mining
Greenpeace head of advocacy Susie Byers says this commitment to support a moratorium on deep-sea mining is the strongest from the government yet.
“The eyes of the world are now on Australia ahead of the ISA’s assembly meeting next week, where delegates will discuss the future of deep-sea mining and protection of the sea floor,” Byers says.
“Deep-sea mining is a destructive new industry that, if allowed to start, will risk irreversible damage to the ocean and communities worldwide who depend on it, with disproportionate impacts on Pacific nations, cultures, and economies.”
This news comes after the federal government moved to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty, which is considered one of the most important international conservation agreements in history. The treaty is a legally binding pact to conserve international waters.
More than 40 countries, including seven Pacific nations, have called for a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining. While the government has committed to supporting a global moratorium, it has not yet formally announced opposition to deep-sea mining.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: NOAA
