We need to stop deep-sea mining before it starts!

Instead of more and more mining, we need a raw material transition with less consumption and a more circular economy. The deep sea is one of the last almost untouched places on earth. It is a treasure trove of biodiversity and holds unimagined wonders and possibilities. We don't know much about the deep sea. Except she's full of life. And this is despite the fact that the seabed makes up more than half of the earth's surface.

But there is a threat: deep-sea mining. Until recently, mining minerals on the seabed was neither economically nor technically feasible. Technological progress and rising commodity prices have fundamentally changed this: Exploration and mining, the so-called shallow water mining up to 200 m depth, are steadily increasing in all the world's oceans. In the hunt for rare metals for green transformation, the seabed is increasingly becoming the focus of attention.

The problem

Deep-sea mining companies want to exploit the seabed and dismember the deep-sea treasures that belong to all of us for their profit. Profit flows into private hands, while we have to live with the consequences. Especially the people near the coast. We must not allow corporate interests to be placed above human rights and climate protection again.

Scientists warn that deep-sea mining could cause serious and potentially irreversible damage to the deep-sea and marine life living there. In addition, deep-sea mining could disrupt the natural processes of carbon storage in the oceans and especially on the seabed, thus further exacerbating the climate crisis. The oceans are already in multiple crises and are heavily burdened by pollution, the effects of the climate crisis and overfishing. Deep-sea mining could finally throw them off balance.

For hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the oceans have a crucial social and economic importance. For about three billion people, the ocean is the most important source of food. Hundreds of millions of people earn their livelihood directly or indirectly from the sea.

Deep-sea mining does not serve climate protection. It only generates profits for a few companies. We do not need it for the necessary ecological transformation of our society.

The solution

The deep sea is one of the largest, most sensitive and important ecosystems on Earth. Some governments, as well as private companies and scientists, have already expressed their concerns about deep-sea mining. France, Ireland, Germany, Costa Rica, Chile, Spain, Panama, Ecuador, Vanuatu, the Dominican Republic, Fiji, Samoa, Switzerland and Canada are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. Just like Google, Samsung, BMW, Volvo, NatWest and hundreds of scientists.

But that's not enough. A moratorium is not enough, we need a binding end to deep-sea mining. This is the only way to save the deep sea. To this end, the Federal Government must work in the International Maritime Authority responsible for the deep sea. This must be accompanied by an absolute reduction in primary raw material consumption. With a reorientation of economic policy priorities towards a circular economy, ambitious reuse targets, improved recycling and a product design geared towards longevity, reparability and recyclability, raw materials from deep-sea mining become superfluous.

We can make the transition to clean energy and clean transport without destroying nature. Deep-sea mining would put profit above the environment and human rights, we must prevent that.

More information about our work on the raw materials transition can be found here.

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