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☆ Deep-sea mining could help solve the global critical minerals shortage, but it's a lightning rod for controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But extracting these metals via deep-sea mining has become a lightning rod for global controversy, as many fear the potential ecological disruptions it could cause in a part of our planet that remains largely unexplored. The Metals Company has announced that it's planning to submit its application next summer and begin exploitation in 2025, leaving many concerned about the potential implications. "What I am absolutely convinced of is that we can slow down or maybe even stop the growth in rainforest nickel," Barron said. Deep-sea mining avoids the emissions associated with blasting, as well as sulfidic tailings, a waste material that can contaminate groundwater. Great unknownsA few years ago, the World Wildlife Fund released a business statement calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.

Persons: Jessica Battle, Gerard Barron, we're, Barron, Andrew Miller Organizations: Clarion, United Nations, International, Authority, ISA, Metals Company, Mining, The Metals Company, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Metals, World Wildlife, Google, Samsung, BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo, Renault, WWF, CCZ, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration Locations: Indonesia, Congolese, U.S, Texas

☆ Dozens of nations to sign U.N. ocean treaty but implementation still awaits
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Daina Beth Solomon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The global pact to conserve biodiversity on the high seas was finally agreed in March and formally adopted by the United Nations in June. It is seen as a crucial tool to meet a target agreed last year to protect 30% of the earth's land and sea by 2030, known as "30 by 30". At least 60 countries are expected to sign the agreement at the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Mads Christensen, interim executive director of Greenpeace International, described the signings as a "powerful signal" and help maintain momentum to meet the "30 by 30" target. "Now politicians must bring the treaty home and ensure it is ratified in record time."

Persons: Borja Suarez, Mads Christensen, Jessica Battle, David Stanway, Stephen Coates Organizations: El, Recovery, Gran Canaria, REUTERS, United Nations, United Nations General Assembly, Greenpeace International, International Union for, Worldwide Fund, Nature, Thomson Locations: El Burrero Beach, Gran, Spain, Singapore

Ms. Battle has been leading an effort to have businesses pledge not to finance seabed mining or source seafloor materials in their supply chains. Similarly, prominent banks in Britain, such as Lloyds and Standard Chartered, are refusing to do business with deep-sea mining entities. But critics say that the expense and logistics of mining in the remote ocean — and transporting metals back to land — raise doubts about whether deep-sea mining can be profitable. “This industry could start without being needed,” she said of deep-sea mining. But seabed mining supporters say that existing mining is worse for the environment, and deep-sea mining could help wrestle control of critical metals from China and Russia.

Persons: Barron, DealBook, it’s, Jessica Battle Organizations: ” Regulators, United Nations, World Wildlife Fund, BMW, Google, Samsung, Volvo, Volkswagen, Lloyds, Standard Chartered, International Energy Agency Locations: Britain, China, Russia

☆ A deadline looms for rules governing deep-sea mining, but a rushed decision may be risky
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Proponents say that deep-sea mining there is a less damaging way to gather metals like nickel, copper, manganese and cobalt. Opponents of deep-sea mining say there is not enough information to make that kind of decision. Critics of the idea of deep-sea mining have said the process is being rushed. That's what's behind the drive for diversity of supply on land-based mining, as well as exploration of alternatives such as deep-sea mining." Finding consensus for the Wild West of the seaOpponents of deep-sea mining want to tap the brakes.

☆ This Texas crisis center fields half the state's 988 suicide hotline calls. Their VP describes how they handle it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Sarah Al-Arshani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After rolling out in July 2022, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Support Line has seen a rise in calls, per federal data. Here's how one Texas crisis center is handling the increase in calls. The Harris Center, based in Houston, is one of the over 200 crisis centers fielding calls all across the country. The center, which has been working in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline since 2007, has fielded about half the crisis line calls in the state. The center is the largest crisis center in the state and has fielded a majority of the crisis line calls in Texas.

☆ Nations reach accord to protect marine life on high seas
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea came into force in 1994, before marine biodiversity was a well-established concept. The treaty will create a new body to manage the conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas. "For the first time, we are getting a binding agreement for the high seas, which until now have hardly been protected," Lemke said. Several marine species — including dolphins, whales, sea turtles and many fish — make long annual migrations, crossing national borders and the high seas. The high seas have long suffered exploitation due to commercial fishing and mining, as well as pollution from chemicals and plastics.

☆ Countries gather to thrash out U.N. ocean protection treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( David Stanway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Delegations from hundreds of countries will meet in New York this week in an attempt to hammer out a new legally binding ocean protection treaty that green groups believe will decide whether efforts to safeguard global biodiversity can succeed. Last August, an earlier round of talks on the new United Nations ocean conservation treaty were suspended, with countries unable to reach an agreement on financing. Sharing the proceeds of "marine genetic resources" and the establishment of ocean environmental impact assessment rules for development were also major sticking points. "There seems to be an appetite to actually finalise the treaty now," said Jessica Battle, ocean expert at the Worldwide Fund for Nature. "Genetic resources and the issue of finance will be the end game," said Greenpeace's Li.

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