Macron opposes deep-sea mining amid growing interest

Governments and companies alike are currently eyeing the depths of the ocean, which still remains uncharted territory. EPA-EFE/KHALED ELFIQI

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his opposition to deep-sea mining permits but confirmed his support for exploration at the recent COP27 summit in Egypt, settling the matter of France’s stance once and for all.

Read the original French article here.

Before Macron expressed opposition to deep-sea mining during the ongoing climate conference in Egypt, France’s position was somewhat ambiguous.

At a UN conference in Lisbon in July, Macron said he wanted to “put a stop to deep-sea mining and not authorise new activities that would endanger ocean ecosystems”, while on 21 October 2021, as he presented France’s investment plans for 2030, he said he would not be opposed to taking extraordinary measures to “perhaps allow access to certain rare metals.”

But now, France’s position is clear: No to deep-sea mining,  yes to exploration.

“The oceans must be what space was, in essence, a few years ago: a new frontier for cooperation and multilateralism,” he said.

Underwater gold rush

Governments and companies are currently eyeing the depths of the ocean, which remains uncharted territory. The deep seas potentially contain cobalt, nickel, zinc, copper, gold and silver deposits – all in high demand, particularly for the world’s digital and energy industries.

But NGOs, environmental associations and ecologists oppose digging for ‘gold’ in the ocean’s depths as the consequences on ecosystems are still unknown. Symbolically, they also want to preserve those areas still untouched by humans.

“Greenpeace France welcomes this announcement that strengthens France’s position against deep sea mining,” Greenpeace France wrote in a statement published on Monday (7 November).

Green MEPs like Caroline Roose even called it a “good signal” and told EURACTIV about the heavy pressure NGOs had put on the president.

“Now, only he must keep his word. I hope he is not hiding behind exploration to prepare for seabed exploitation,” Roose added.

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EU environment ministers on Monday (24 October) agreed their negotiating position for the COP27 climate conference in Sharm el Sheikh following a battle of wills between capitals over the bloc’s level of ambition at the annual UN climate summit.

Important timing

While the International Seabed Authority (ISA) oversees deep-sea exploration and has not yet greenlighted mining permits, this could soon change.

Currently, the Jamaica-based intergovernmental organisation is holding negotiations until 11 November. On the agenda is setting a framework that can give rise to exploitation rights.

“The president is taking a strong position at an important time, in the middle of international negotiations,” Renew MEP Pierre Karleskind told EURACTIV.

“The ISA had to answer whether it was possible to carry out exploitations responsibly. France says no,” he added.

France, the world’s second-largest maritime territory, will therefore have to make itself heard in the coming days to assert its position, which goes against the interests of many Pacific countries and mining operators ramping up pressure on ISA.

On 7 September, ISA approved Canada’s The Metal Company deep-sea mining request, allowing it to begin in a pilot phase. This means that if ISF adopts no new regulatory frameworks by June 2023, the first mining permits will be issued to the company, officially launching the underwater gold rush.

“We, therefore, have two years left to ensure the protection of these spaces, which are as unique as they are untouched by human impact […]”, warned elected representatives from the Green party in an article published in the weekly JDD in February.

Hoping for consensus

“I assume this position and will take it to international forums,” Macron said at COP27.

For ISA to adopt a regulatory framework, its council, which consists of 36 member countries, including France, must reach a consensus.

For Karleskind, this session will probably lead to “a request for further work to assess the environmental impacts and evaluate potential exploration methods. To see what is feasible. But it is not possible today to open this Pandora’s box.”

France will also be able to count on the support of Spain and Germany, who both favour a moratorium on deep-sea mining. The same goes for New Zealand, Panama, Costa Rica, Chile and various Pacific states.

The matter has also been discussed at the EU level, and in the spring, the European Parliament adopted a resolution favouring a moratorium on deep-sea mining.

The European Commission, for its part, has made the protection of the seabed one of its “key priorities”. In a communication published before the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon in June, the EU executive took a stand against “deep sea mining”.

Though some countries are looking to put a brake on deep-sea mining, the underwater gold rush could be accelerated as states scramble for resources amid the current energy crisis.

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[Edited by Alice Taylor]

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