KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 7 (IPS) – The meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) concluded last week with a ban on mining. An unprecedented number of states called for a moratorium or precautionary measure and a new Secretary-General was elected.
During three weeks of negotiations, the annual financial management of the ISA was scrutinized. No Mining Code was adopted. A Head of State did attend the meeting to support a moratorium for the first time in the history of the General Assembly. In addition, the first ever formal debate took place within the ISA General Assembly on the need to adopt a comprehensive policy for the protection of the marine environment.
The momentum to defend the depths has increased with 32 states now calling for a precautionary pause or moratorium. The presence of senior political figures, indigenous leaders and youth from around the world has intensified the pressure to stop mining, and the election of a new Secretary General heralds a new era for the ISA.
The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) was present at the negotiations in Kingston and Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium Campaign Lead, Sofia Tsenikli said: “For years, the ISA has operated in its own bubble, pushing through and resisting increasing calls for precautionary measures. This Assembly meeting marked a crucial shift for the ISA and the moratorium campaign.
“States and communities on the frontlines of deep sea mining and its impacts are here in Jamaica to defend their homes and cultures from this destructive activity before it can begin. We applaud the ocean champions who are leading the effort to protect our fragile and vital deep sea.”
Malta, Honduras, Tuvalu, Guatemala and Austria joined the growing wave of countries calling for a precautionary measure on deep sea mining, citing the lack of scientific knowledge and understanding of the deep sea, the absence of an effective regulatory regime and the high risk to the marine environment.
The ISA General Assembly elected Leticia Carvalho as the new Secretary General of ISA, after she defeated incumbent Secretary Michael Lodge, marking a new chapter for the institution responsible for the effective protection and long-term health of the deep sea.
Matthew Gianni, co-founder of the DSCC, congratulated Carvahlo and the Brazilian government on this historic election, noting: “ISA has an opportunity to champion a new way forward for good ocean governance, putting the precautionary principle first and ensuring the health of the deep sea and its benefits for future generations.
We urge the new Secretary-General to prioritize promoting transparency in the work of the ISA and independent scientific research and capacity building, decoupled from an extractive agenda, to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the deep ocean, its diversity of species and ecosystems, and the role they play in sustaining the health of the planet for us all.”
For the first time, the ISA General Assembly discussed the possibility of a General Policy for the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment, which could establish the necessary conditions that must be met before commercial deep sea mining can be considered.
However, no decision was taken because a group of States, including China, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Uganda and Ghana, refused to participate in the development of an overall policy at this meeting, despite the support of a large number of States, including Chile, Palau, Vanuatu, Samoa, Switzerland, Brazil and Greece, to place the protection of the marine environment at the heart of the highest body of ISA: the Assembly.
We urge the General Assembly to reopen this discussion next year and develop a comprehensive policy to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Duncan Currie, DSCC’s International Legal Adviser, said: “It is high time that the ISA General Assembly discusses the protection of the marine environment, given the global outcry over environmental concerns surrounding deep seabed mining.
The ISA Assembly, as the highest body of the ISA, has the legal authority under UNCLOS to establish such a comprehensive policy. We are disappointed that this did not happen this year, but we look forward to working constructively with States next year to establish a comprehensive policy for the protection and conservation of the marine environment.”
Furthermore, a Mining Code is still far from being agreed – a blow to mining companies – and the unrealistic and artificial 2025 roadmap remains on the table, with more than 30 regulatory issues still unresolved, undecided or undiscussed.
DSCC Policy Officer Emma Wilson said: “With independent scientists pointing out the risks of deep sea mining, and the lack of a robust scientific understanding of these ecosystems, it is time for states to step back from the technicalities of the mining code and instead answer one fundamental question: is it safe or not to allow this industry to continue under current conditions? Rushing to adopt a regulatory regime that would open the floodgates for a highly destructive activity to an area we know little about is beyond reckless and risks irreparable and permanent damage to our ocean and planet.”
Patricia Roy is a Senior Press Officer for the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition and Communications INC. She has worked for over 10 years in arts management and communications in the public and private sectors in France, the United Kingdom and Spain. She works at Communications INC and specializes in European and international media strategy, coordination and outreach for environmental and social campaigns designed by international NGOs.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
