Demand is surging for minerals such as lithium, cobalt and graphite that are essential components of low-carbon technologies such as batteries in electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. Although mining for these minerals on land is continuing, there is increasing interest in recovering these minerals from the seabed in international waters where most of the ocean’s critical minerals are to be found. Regulations to cover such exploitation are the responsibility of the UN’s International Seabed Authority (ISA). An impending deadline for the publication of these regulations has increased concern over the environmental impacts of mining these deposits. The presentation will attempt to describe the nature of the deposits and the technology designed to recover them, together with the potential consequences of such exploitation.

 

 

Richard Haworth is a marine geophysicist who has worked with geological surveys internationally throughout his career. Late in that career he was responsible for Mineral Policy in Canada and participated in the World Summitt on Sustainable Development, especially related to the Precautionary Principle. He recently completed 5 years on the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), a sister organization to the ISA under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With this broad background, while not intimately involved in the subject matter, he will try to bring a balanced perspective on both the benefits and challenges of mining seabed minerals.