Looming Dangers to Sustainable Development and Global Climate Justice:Â Drawing a Blue Line to Protect the Ocean against Deep Sea Mining
at: Ocean Basecamp
Passeio Adamastor Edificio Nau, L41, 1990-007 Lisboa
Organised by: Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), Fair Oceans, Misereor, Brot für die Welt, Ozeanien-Dialog, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung
The ocean’s health including its climate regulatory function is increasingly under threat as a result of human exploitation of its resources, destruction of biodiversity, pollution from land based activities and the subsequent impact of climate change on the health of the ocean. Now the oceans are facing yet another danger: Deep Sea Mining (DSM). New technological developments and advancement are promising ways to exploit deep-sea resources, with industry and governments rushing to carve up the ocean floor.
Deep sea mining is set to become a reality within a year.
Unless we draw a blue line calling for urgent attention to increase protection for the ocean and call an immediate halt to DSM
Some governments support deep sea mining as part of a blue economy expecting it to boost economic development and government revenues. The European Commission values the blue economy at $700 billion. In addition, these deep sea mineral are being presented as critical for green climate transition and necessary for electric car batteries, windmills, solar panels and consumer goods. Yet today, there are clear political alternatives to push forward a green transition without opening up yet another frontier for the mining sector on deep sea ocean floor.
We cannot mine our way out of the climate crisis!
Based on lived experiences, the Pacific ocean is a cautionary tale for the world about the false lure of deep-sea mining and unimaginable wealth creation. Civil Society knows the alleged benefits of deep sea mining not to be true and many Pacific Islanders have expressed concerns about the social, economic, and environmental consequences for their lives and those of future generations in the liquid continent. Their resistance and call to Draw a  the Pacific Blue Line – Deep Sea Mining is not needed, not wanted, not consented! is at the forefront of worldwide opposition. The alleged need for deep sea mining has also been challenged by the European Parliament, a large number of international marine scientists as well as a growing number of companies – and its destructive nature further reaffirmed by the growing scientific experience and knowledge of the deep sea.
Scientific evidence clearly indicates that the impacts of deep-sea mining on biodiversity, on ecosystems that sustain coastal populations as well as on the deep sea’s function as a climate sink would be far-reaching, severe and would last for generations, making the damage essentially irreversible within human time scales.
To set a path towards a truly sustainable development prioritizing the protection of oceans as life-giving source over economic exploitation; and ensuring a living common heritage for human kind, coastal communities from the global south, indigenous representatives and knowledge holders as well as policy makers, marine science need to be involved in the discourses and the processes. The panel also seeks to create a north-south policy dialogue process.
Discussion with state representatives, civil society and scientists.
More information on speakers will follow shortly.
Kindly register via email with Marie-Luise Abshagen at abshagen@forumue.de
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