Representatives from 18 Pacific countries met in Fiji last week to discuss deep sea mining.
The Deep Sea Minerals High-Level Talanoa, hosted by the Pacific Island Forum, could have set the stage for critical decisions on the future of the oceans.
The pressing question: is the economic promise of mining the ocean’s depths worth the risk of irreversible environmental harm?
This Talanoa could have been the turning point for the region’s survival or self-sabotage. It was an opportunity for nations to debate the fate of the oceans. What happens in one nation’s waters impacts the entire region.
Cooperation on deep sea mining essential
Cooperation is essential for the islands most affected by the climate crisis, and while this gathering offered a chance to build a collective understanding of deep sea mining’s risks, unfortunately the Talanoa did not end in the united stance the Pacific needs.
Pacific nations have a strong and growing opposition against deep sea mining. Only Tonga, Nauru, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands hold exploration contracts with industry. They face tough choices between economic growth and environmental preservation, balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability.
Debates between national interest and regional ecological stability no doubt took place at the Talanoa, as so far the only outcome has been that further deliberations must take place. No matter the arguments for deep sea mining, it cannot be denied that a moratorium offers the best chance for a sustainable, equitable future that prioritises climate justice and resilience for our Pacific communities.
World is watching the Pacific
The climate crisis leaves no room for fragmented decisions. The Talanoa should have been a stage for strong political will from Pacific leaders that resulted in a united stand. The world is watching our region as China makes its moves in Pacific countries like the Cook Islands, while decades of Pacific nations leading global climate advocacy is undermined by the mere idea of this industry.
As nations like Vanuatu have displayed immense levels of integrity by pushing for clarity at the UN International Court of Justice on climate change obligations, it is the moral and practical duty of Pacific leaders to act with the same tenacity in making decisions on deep sea mining. The Pacific Islands Forum must centre the voices of those likely to be most affected and prioritise ecological health in any deep sea mining debate. A united call for a moratorium is the only way to protect our future.
Pacific civil society demands transparency and accountability from multinational corporations and governments alike. It is time for Pacific leaders to match civil society’s level of conviction, clarity and courage.
Their people have spoken and await an answer. The decisions on deep sea mining will be momentous so it would be fitting for Pacific politicians to remember this Cook Islands proverb while discussing deep sea mining issues:
“Auraka e kai mata i te vi. Don’t eat the mangoes while they are green or unready.”
The metaphorical mango that is the deep sea mining industry is not ripe. It is premature and reckless to entertain the idea, considering the lack of relevant scientific research on the immediate and long-term effects of mining. Mining the Pacific’s depths could exacerbate environmental degradation, harming fragile ecosystems and food sources like tuna. For Pacific cultures rooted in the ocean, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
While deep sea miners promise economic benefits, this new industry is clouded by shaky insurance, legal risks, and market volatility. Pacific nations must weigh whether short-term gains are worth the destruction of marine ecosystems vital to their livelihoods. Sustainable models that combine indigenous knowledge with scientific expertise for lasting environmental and economic stability must be championed.
Deep sea mining is covert colonialism
As deeper conversations continue into the Pacific Leadership Forum in September, Pacific leaders must unite to ensure that regional resources benefit local communities – not foreign entities. Deep sea mining risks worsening the climate crisis while the global north continues to ignore its climate commitments. Ultimately, so that the global north can pat themselves on the back for driving their electric cars whilst they ignore how their emissions drive our countries into the ocean. If the Pacific sacrifices its ecological stability, it will be for the benefit of others, not for itself.
Agreeing to deep sea mining would diminish the mauri (lifeforce) of our ancestral lands, auctioning off our oceans to powerful corporations. This covert colonialism expects the Pacific to worsen its suffering to serve the global north’s interests. In the generations to come, if deep sea mining is allowed, people will look back at the chain of events that led to ecological degradation, suffering and economic instability. This Talanoa and its outcomes will be seen as a catalyst for the deep sea destruction. As Pacific politicians deliberate further, I hope they remember that they are accountable to their descendants for whatever they decide.
For these reasons, Pacific leaders must carefully consider the long-term consequences of deep sea mining. The consequences of deep sea mining go beyond politics, because its effects will be felt for generations to come.
Source : GREENPEACE