International Seabed Authority’s Assembly
ISA Wraps With Election Of New Secretary-General And Growing Movement Of Countries
Against Deep Sea MiningSaturday, 3 August 2024,
Press Release: Greenpeace
The International Seabed Authority’s Assembly has elected Brazilian oceanographer Leticia Carvalho to be the new Secretary General, replacing Michael Lodge.
Greenpeace International campaigner Louisa Casson says: "Leticia Carvalho has just been elected on a promise to deliver much-needed transparency and accountability to this organisation that is of vital importance for the future of the oceans.
"The new Secretary General must put the health of the oceans at the heart of the ISA. People around the world looking at what has happened here in the past week are seeing a growing wave of resistance to deep sea mining as well as companies discrediting scientific work and Indigenous peoples’ cultural heritage.
"We hope to see the new Secretary General take the helm and work with governments to change the ISA’s course to serve in the public interest, as it has been driven by the narrow corporate interests of the deep sea mining industry for far too long."
Greenpeace Aotearoa deep sea mining campaigner Juressa Lee (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Rarotonga) says: "It is clear that an increasing number of governments, including many in the Pacific, are joining the growing movement against this nascent and destructive industry. This change of leadership must tip the balance in favour of protecting the ocean and all who depend upon it.
"In this election, member states have overwhelmingly supported a new president who articulated a pro-conservation stance. This further highlights the growing momentum against the destructive deep sea mining industry.
"Going forward, decisions at ISA must be well-informed by the best available, independent science and research and that must include the participation of Indigenous Peoples and their traditional knowledge systems, which will help protect our planet and our communities for generations to come.
"Aotearoa was one of the first countries to call for a moratorium in 2022. But the New Zealand Government now risks swimming against the tide with the Fast Track Approvals Bill potentially opening up the threat of Trans-Tasman Resources being allowed to mine the seabed off the coast of Taranaki.
"Allowing seabed mining here in Aotearoa would undermine global efforts to halt deep sea mining in its tracks in the Pacific," says Lee.
© Scoop Media
Press Release: Greenpeace
The International Seabed Authority’s Assembly has elected Brazilian oceanographer Leticia Carvalho to be the new Secretary General, replacing Michael Lodge.
Greenpeace International campaigner Louisa Casson says: "Leticia Carvalho has just been elected on a promise to deliver much-needed transparency and accountability to this organisation that is of vital importance for the future of the oceans.
"The new Secretary General must put the health of the oceans at the heart of the ISA. People around the world looking at what has happened here in the past week are seeing a growing wave of resistance to deep sea mining as well as companies discrediting scientific work and Indigenous peoples’ cultural heritage.
"We hope to see the new Secretary General take the helm and work with governments to change the ISA’s course to serve in the public interest, as it has been driven by the narrow corporate interests of the deep sea mining industry for far too long."
Greenpeace Aotearoa deep sea mining campaigner Juressa Lee (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Rarotonga) says: "It is clear that an increasing number of governments, including many in the Pacific, are joining the growing movement against this nascent and destructive industry. This change of leadership must tip the balance in favour of protecting the ocean and all who depend upon it.
"In this election, member states have overwhelmingly supported a new president who articulated a pro-conservation stance. This further highlights the growing momentum against the destructive deep sea mining industry.
"Going forward, decisions at ISA must be well-informed by the best available, independent science and research and that must include the participation of Indigenous Peoples and their traditional knowledge systems, which will help protect our planet and our communities for generations to come.
"Aotearoa was one of the first countries to call for a moratorium in 2022. But the New Zealand Government now risks swimming against the tide with the Fast Track Approvals Bill potentially opening up the threat of Trans-Tasman Resources being allowed to mine the seabed off the coast of Taranaki.
"Allowing seabed mining here in Aotearoa would undermine global efforts to halt deep sea mining in its tracks in the Pacific," says Lee.
© Scoop Media
New head of UN deep-sea mining regulator vows to restore neutrality
2024.08.02
Kingston, Jamaica
International Seabed Authority secretary-general elect, Leticia Carvalho [center] of Brazil, is congratulated by an ISA delegate following her election on Aug. 2, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Stephen Wright/BenarNewsPromises of “accountability and transparency” in deep-sea mining has seen a tsunami-size vote by nations on Friday for a Brazilian scientist to replace the incumbent British lawyer as head of an obscure U.N. organization that regulates the world’s seabed.
Mounting international opposition to prospects of the International Seabed Authority approving exploitation of the deep ocean’s vast mineral bounty by corporations before its environmental regulations were finalized fueled the mood for change.
A rare vote by member nations saw Brazil’s candidate, former oceanographer Leticia Carvalho, defeat two-term head Michael Lodge, who has been criticized for being aligned to seabed mining companies. Lodge wasn’t present when the result was announced.
“The winning margin reflects the appetite for change,” Carvalho told BenarNews. “I see that transparency and accountability, broader participation, more focus on additional science, bridging knowledge gaps are the priority areas.”
Lodge had support from only 34 nations compared with 79 for Carvahlo, who also campaigned on restoring neutrality to the secretary-general position. She is currently a senior official at the U.N. Environment Program and a former oil industry regulator in Brazil.
The change of leadership at the Kingston-based ISA is a possible setback to efforts to quickly finalize regulations for seabed mining, which would pave the way for exploitation to begin in the areas under its jurisdiction. Some countries, meanwhile, are exploring the possibility of nodule mining in their territorial waters, which are outside of ISA oversight.
Mining of the golf ball-sized metallic nodules that litter swathes of the sea bed is touted as a source of rare earths and minerals needed for green technologies, such as electric vehicles, as the world reduces reliance on fossil fuels. Skeptics say such minerals are already abundant on land and warn that mining the sea bed could cause irreparable damage to an environment that is still poorly understood by science.
Lodge was nominated for a third term by Kiribati, which is one of three Pacific island nations working with Nasdaq-listed The Metals Company on plans to exploit seabed minerals. More than 30 nations were disqualified from voting in the secret ballot as their financial contributions to the ISA are in arrears.
The hundreds of delegates and other attendees at the ISA assembly lined up to hug Carvalho following her election including Gerard Barron, chief executive of The Metals Company.
[Stephen Wright/BenarNews]
After the vote the company tweeted, “we appreciate her proactive engagement with us and share her belief that adopting regulations, not a moratorium, is the best way to fulfill the ISA’s mandate,” adding they still hope to become “the first commercial operator in this promising industry.”
Greenpeace International campaigner Louisa Casson said she hopes Carvalho will work with governments “to change the ISA’s course to serve the public interest, as it has been driven by the narrow corporate interests of the deep sea mining industry for far too long.”
This week’s annual assembly of the ISA also witnessed more nations joining a call for a moratorium on mining until there is greater scientific and environmental understanding of its likely consequences.
[IISD-ENB]
Tuvalu is one of the latest to join those calling for a moratorium, taking to 10 the members of the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum, now opposed to any imminent start to deep-sea mining.
Nations such as Vanuatu and Chile also succeeded in forcing a general debate on establishing an environmental policy at the ISA.
[IISD-ENB]
Pelenatita Petelo Kara, a Tongan activist who campaigns against deep-sea mining, said she is hopeful new leadership will mean “more time for science to confirm new developments” such as alternative minerals for green technologies as well as a more thorough dialogue on the proposed mining rules.
Deep-sea mineral extraction has been particularly contentious in the Pacific, where some economically lagging island nations see it as a possible financial windfall, but many other island states are strongly opposed.
[Stephen Wright/BenarNews]
The island nation of Nauru in June 2021 notified the seabed authority of its intention to begin mining, which triggered the clock for the first time on a two-year period for the authority’s member nations to finalize regulations.
Its president David Adeang told the assembly earlier this week that its mining application currently being prepared in conjunction with The Metals Company will allow the ISA to make “an informed decision based on real scientific data and not emotion and conjecture.”
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