Washington, DC (March 14, 2024) –In response to a group of former military and political leaders calling for the U.S. to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in an effort to spur the country’s interest in deep-sea mining amid competition with China for critical minerals, Arlo Hemphill, Project Lead on Greenpeace USA’s Oceans Are Life campaign, said: “Almost everyone agrees that the United States should ratify the Law of the Sea – it’s a no-brainer and has been since the treaty was adopted over forty years ago. This might be the only thing that Greenpeace and Big Oil agree with each other on. Now, deep sea mining corporation The Metals Company has jumped on the bandwagon, hoping it will increase their chances of making it big after several costly failed ventures. With two dozen countries already on the record opposing the launch of Deep Sea Mining any time soon, there is little possibility it will be permitted.”
The recent resolution adopted by the Convention for Migratory Species (CMS) urging member countries not to engage in or support deep sea mining underscores the growing recognition of the risks associated with this industry. Moreover, numerous studies and reports have highlighted the economic folly of deep sea mining. Planet Tracker’s recently published findings that this type of mining could result in over $500 billion in value destruction, including the destruction of habitats that could lead to natural capital losses of at least $465 billion and potential losses of $132 billion to the mining industry, emphasize the significant environmental and financial risks associated with deep sea mining. Additionally, an Ocean Foundation report highlights the high uncertainty surrounding metal prices and the potential irrelevance of deep sea mining in a circular economy with next generation battery technologies that don’t rely on deep-sea metals. The industry’s unrealistic financial models and disregard for these challenges raise red flags about its viability and sustainability.
Hemphill continued: “After failing to persuade people that deep sea minerals are needed to fight climate change, these reckless opportunists turned their sights on the Pentagon. These former military and government officials who should know better have lent their names to a letter that supports the right thing for the wrong reasons. We don’t need to ratify the Law of the Sea so we can mine one of the most important ecosystems that sustains life on our planet to make more missiles. Ratification gives the United States the legal standing to play a more active role in a number of important conversations about how we treat the ocean. A seat at the table at the International Seabed Authority, for example, gives us an opportunity to join the rapidly growing coalition of countries who believe this is not the time to allow such an unnecessary and dangerous industry to begin. Instead of succumbing to short-sighted interests the US should prioritize its responsibility towards extending protections for our oceans.”
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Contact: Tanya Brooks, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, P: 703-342-9226, E: [email protected]
Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
