S2E8: Trashed or treasure? Will deep sea mining ruin oceans?

Rich lodes of valuable metals lie on the seafloor. Will a global
rush to mine them be allowed – and will doing so damage the
world’s oceans?


Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits
Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from
biodiversity conservation to climate change.


Scattered across the sea bed are trillions of potato-sized lumps
brimming with lucrative metals vital to making electric vehicle
batteries, wind turbines, smartphones and much more. This is
sparking a “blue rush”, as some countries and companies are eager
to cash-in on them. 


Yet the mining of polymetallic nodules remains banned and there
are growing concerns that scooping them off the sea floor risks
disrupting one of the most important, but still poorly
understood, parts of the planet. In this episode, hosts Audrey
Tan and David Fogarty speak with The Pew Charitable Trusts’
project director of ocean governance Julian Jackson on the
risks. 


Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):


2:12 Three different types of deep sea mining


6:42 Environmental impacts of deep sea mining 


12:21 Why countries are pushing for deep sea mining 


14:58 Implication of Micronesian country Nauru announcing
intention to start sea bed mining. 


17:02 Is deep sea mining necessary? 


Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W


Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2


Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6


Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu


Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty
(dfogarty@sph.com.sg)


Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim


Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong


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drops:


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Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg


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