Headline: Deep seabed mining and the International Seabed Authority: What is currently happening, and where are we headed?

Auf dem Grund des Pazifischen Ozeans liegen polymetallische Knollen, die für die Energiespeicherung wichtige Mineralien enthalten. Image courtesy of the DeepCCZ expedition/ CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

03.05.2023 - 03.05.2023

Uhrzeit: 14:00

GENEVA GRADUATE INSTITUTE, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2A, CH - 1211 Geneva, Switzerland (Auditorium A1)

Deep seabed mining, which involves the exploration and eventual exploitation of ocean minerals at depths greater than 200 metres, has been the subject of increasing interest in recent years. While the deep seabed is known to contain mineral deposits with significant metal content such as nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese, extracting these minerals will cause devastating harm to the marine environment.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international organisation comprising 167 member states and the EU responsible for the management of mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction, has awarded over 30 exploration contractors and is currently in the midst of negotiations on regulations to cover future exploitation activities. Negotiations have been ongoing since 2019, though, it is the invocation of a treaty provision known as the two-year rule by the Republic of Nauru imposing a deadline on the ISA to adopt the regulations by 9 July 2023 and growing calls for a pause or moratorium that serve as the backdrop for this event.

The main objective of the event is to sensitise the topic of deep seabed mining to a broader audience, including discussing the mandate and ongoing work of the ISA, alongside the many associated concerns and tensions among member states and stakeholders.

This event will provide an overview of the state of play at the ISA, including the accelerated regulatory process and implications of the two-year rule at the ISA amidst growing opposition to deep seabed mining, as the deadline of July 2023 approaches.

Speakers: