The International Seabed Authority and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development

Abstract

Deep sea mining in the Area (seabed and subsoil beyond national jurisdiction) is regarded by some stakeholders as a threat to the achievement of Goal 14 of the United Nations, 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. However, the availability of metals and mineral resources will be crucial to comply with most Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the need to foster a circular economy and reduce waste to a minimum, it seems unlikely that the decarbonization of the economy could be achieved without primary mining. Future minerals supply, facing significant obstacles, can source from increased primary terrestrial and deep-seabed supply, or deep-seabed displacing terrestrial. This work develops principles and an integrated, holistic framework for deep-seabed mining to play a role in future demand through sustainable global sourcing and collective action on the global commons through the International Seabed Authority. Optimum global welfare requires balancing all the competing uses of the marine environment and their contributions to private and public benefits enjoyed by all Humanity, in both current and future generations, and weighted by equity concerns for a more progressive distribution as required by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.