Deep-sea mining and the potential environmental cost of ‘going green’ in the Pacific

Abstract

Addressing global warming by reducing carbon emissions is recognised as a necessary step to try and ensure the survival of the planet. Integral to this it is essential that those who have contributed most to global warming undertake fundamental changes in the way their economies and societies operate. Among the numerous solutions proposed is a reduction in fossil fuels, especially in transport systems. This includes moving away from vehicles dependent on diesel and petrol to electric vehicles. This apparently ‘green’ solution may come at a grave environmental cost however, especially in those parts of the world already vulnerable to climate change. This is because the metals required to make electric vehicle batteries – and to store renewable energy supplies, can be found in the deep seas. Mining them presents a solution to a current need but risks future environmental disaster especially for island states adjacent to these seas. One such area under threat is the Pacific.