"Environmental Concerns Surround Seabed Mining for Clean-Tech Minerals: Will It Be Approved?"

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a United Nations body, has the power to permit or deny mining on the deep seabed, which could unlock critical minerals for clean-tech but also destroy ecosystems. While some countries are pushing for mining to begin, almost 20 governments are calling for a moratorium or slowdown on mining due to concerns about the long-lasting impact on sealife and lack of technology to monitor the seabed. The ISA has missed its deadline to produce regulations, potentially leading to unregulated deep-sea mining. The sticking point is the pristine environment of the seabed and the lack of knowledge about its ecosystems.