French MPs vote to block deep-sea mining and back international ban

RFI
Thu, 19 January 2023 

AP - Dita Alangkara, File

France's parliament has called for the country to join the international fight to ban deep-sea mining, starting by outlawing the practice in its own vast marine territory.

The French National Assembly voted on Tuesday in favour of banning deep-sea mining in its waters, with 215 votes in favour and 56 against.

The resolution calls for a moratorium on the process "until it has been demonstrated by independent scientific groups with certainty that this extractive activity can be undertaken without degrading marine ecosystems and without loss of marine biodiversity".

In the meantime, the MPs called on France to block the adoption of any deep-sea mining regulations by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the intergovernmental body that regulates mining in international waters.

They also urged the French government to oppose the granting of any provisional mining licences, and called for a reform of the ISA to make its workings more transparent.

Risks to vulnerable ecosystems

The deep seabed, which absorbs large quantities of carbon dioxide, contains coveted deposits of rare metals – including copper, nickel and manganese – that can be used in industry, batteries and other electronics.

Environmentalists and scientists are concerned about the risks that deep-sea mining poses to vulnerable underwater ecosystems.

He welcomed the vote as a "victory for the seabed and environmentalists".
Regulatory deadline approaching

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