Search for Minerals Increases Interest in Deep-Sea Mining
2022-11-11
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1The mining industry is pushing to explore more of the world's deep oceans to find metals and minerals used for electric vehicles and other technologies.
2But some scientists are worried that deep sea mining will damage the environment and the biological systems important to the atmosphere.
3Scientists, lawyers and government officials are meeting until November 11 in Jamaica to discuss the issue.
4The International Seabed Authority, (ISA), an independent group created by a United Nations treaty, organized the meeting.
5The ISA has given 31 exploration licenses for deep ocean waters outside of any country's territory.
6While it has not given any licenses to begin mining, some experts worry it will do so soon before rules are in place.
7Experts say the mining would create dirty water, noise, and light that could harm the ecosystem in the deep sea.
8They also note that scientists do not know a lot about the deep sea and need to learn more before making decisions about mining.
9Less than one percent of the world's deep ocean waters have been explored.
10Most of the current exploration activity is in a large region between Hawaii and Mexico.
11Mining companies argue that deep sea mining is less costly and causes less damage than mining on land.
12The International Energy Agency estimated that demand for minerals will increase six times by 2050.
13A report from Fitch Ratings that was released in October said demand will increase because electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies need minerals found in the sea.
14Nauru, a small island northeast of Australia, is leading the push for mining.
15It hopes to financially gain from the mining for minerals that are used in technologies such as electric car batteries.
16But officials in other countries are worried about the effects of mining and are pushing for new rules.
17"We are still very concerned about the consequences," said Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, Brazil's representative at the meeting.
18French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this year that he supports a ban on deep sea mining.
19Germany, which has two exploration contracts, announced on Wednesday that it would not sponsor such mining at this time.
20New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa want a ban on the mining until more is known about its possible effects, a move supported by some scientists and legal experts.
21The ocean holds more carbon than the Earth's atmosphere, plants and soil, and scientists are finding new kinds of plant and animal life during exploration trips.
22Diva Amon is a marine biologist. She said studies take months or even years to complete.
23"We do not understand what lives there, how they live there, the global function that this ecosystem plays," she said.
24She added that because minerals grow only one to 10 millimeters every million years, the deep sea is slow to recover from damage.
25Other concerns over deep sea mining include how money would be divided and how mining companies would be supervised.
26Countries who have signed the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea can sponsor private companies seeking exploration licenses.
27The United States is one of several countries that is not party to the convention.
28Pradeep Singh is a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany.
29He said there are worries that private mining companies might look for a sponsor country based on reduced tax deals, weak environmental laws and other influences.
30Michael Lodge is the secretary general of the ISA.
31He said at the meeting in Jamaica that the agency wants to ensure protection of the marine environment while member countries work on proposed rules.
32I'm Faith Pirlo. And I'm Andrew Smith.
1The mining industry is pushing to explore more of the world's deep oceans to find metals and minerals used for electric vehicles and other technologies. 2But some scientists are worried that deep sea mining will damage the environment and the biological systems important to the atmosphere. 3Scientists, lawyers and government officials are meeting until November 11 in Jamaica to discuss the issue. The International Seabed Authority, (ISA), an independent group created by a United Nations treaty, organized the meeting. 4The ISA has given 31 exploration licenses for deep ocean waters outside of any country's territory. While it has not given any licenses to begin mining, some experts worry it will do so soon before rules are in place. 5Experts say the mining would create dirty water, noise, and light that could harm the ecosystem in the deep sea. They also note that scientists do not know a lot about the deep sea and need to learn more before making decisions about mining. 6Less than one percent of the world's deep ocean waters have been explored. Most of the current exploration activity is in a large region between Hawaii and Mexico. 7Mining companies argue that deep sea mining is less costly and causes less damage than mining on land. 8The International Energy Agency estimated that demand for minerals will increase six times by 2050. A report from Fitch Ratings that was released in October said demand will increase because electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies need minerals found in the sea. 9Nauru, a small island northeast of Australia, is leading the push for mining. It hopes to financially gain from the mining for minerals that are used in technologies such as electric car batteries. 10Need for study and rules 11But officials in other countries are worried about the effects of mining and are pushing for new rules. 12"We are still very concerned about the consequences," said Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, Brazil's representative at the meeting. 13French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this year that he supports a ban on deep sea mining. Germany, which has two exploration contracts, announced on Wednesday that it would not sponsor such mining at this time. 14New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa want a ban on the mining until more is known about its possible effects, a move supported by some scientists and legal experts. 15The ocean holds more carbon than the Earth's atmosphere, plants and soil, and scientists are finding new kinds of plant and animal life during exploration trips. 16Diva Amon is a marine biologist. She said studies take months or even years to complete. 17"We do not understand what lives there, how they live there, the global function that this ecosystem plays," she said. She added that because minerals grow only one to 10 millimeters every million years, the deep sea is slow to recover from damage. 18Other concerns over deep sea mining include how money would be divided and how mining companies would be supervised. 19Countries who have signed the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea can sponsor private companies seeking exploration licenses. The United States is one of several countries that is not party to the convention. 20Pradeep Singh is a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany. He said there are worries that private mining companies might look for a sponsor country based on reduced tax deals, weak environmental laws and other influences. 21Michael Lodge is the secretary general of the ISA. He said at the meeting in Jamaica that the agency wants to ensure protection of the marine environment while member countries work on proposed rules. 22I'm Faith Pirlo. And I'm Andrew Smith. 23Dánica Coto wrote this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. 24_________________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26license -n. official permission to do or carry out an activity 27ecosystem -n. everything that exists in and is linked to a particular environment 28battery -n. a device that stores electricity and can power machines 29consequences -n. (pl.) the results of an action or condition 30sponsor -n. a person or group who supports and takes responsibility for another person or group 31function -n. a special purpose or activity for which something exists 32_________________________________________________________________ 33We want to hear from you. 34We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 35Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.