Greenpeace’s moratorium on deep sea mining is misguided.
Impossible Metals Chief Sustainability Officer, Renee Grogan, responds to the call by Greenpeace for a moratorium on deep sea mining, with this statement:
We support the ocean conservation objectives which form the root of Greenpeace’s campaign.
We believe the data is clear (and recently supported by institutions like McKinsey, The World Bank and IEA) that we have a critical and urgent need for more metals to construct, implement and support the transition to a low-carbon future.
We believe it is foolhardy and irresponsible to propose a ban on seabed mining, without having a credible alternative roadmap for sourcing these metals. The status quo of terrestrial mining becomes more risky and more environmentally and socially damaging every day. We do not yet have access to the volume of critical minerals required through recycling.
We support a swift and comprehensive transition of the entire mining industry to a new standard for mineral extraction – a standard that ensures all mining:
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Protects safety and human rights
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Is carbon neutral
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Maximizes the potential for recycling and circularity
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Eliminates toxic waste
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Avoids widespread habitat destruction
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Avoids water scarcity
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Avoids loss of biodiversity
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Avoids displacing indigenous peoples or local communities
We are aiming to be the first mining company in the world – either land or ocean based – to achieve this higher standard for mineral extraction. We hope others will follow our lead.
We call on all stakeholders in the transition to a low-carbon economy to support a transition to a new standard of mineral extraction – to focus on solutions, not problems; to innovate, not ban; and to be a part of delivering a credible pathway for the transition we desperately need.
