Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to paragraph 29 of the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Communiqué, published on 27 May 2022, what steps her Department plans to take to assess the potential (a) impacts of deep sea mining operations and (b) environmental harms; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We continue to act responsibly in line with the position set out in the communiqué, including through taking a precautionary approach. We commissioned an independent evidence review into the potential risks and benefits of deep sea mining, which was published in October 2022:
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/deep-sea-mining-evidence-review-published/
Through the UK’s sponsorship of academic research and existing exploration licences, over 70 peer-reviewed publications supporting a greater understanding of environmental issues associated with deep-sea mining have already been produced, with more to come. The Government is also part-funding the SMARTEX project on seabed mining and resilience to experimental impact, which aims to build a better understanding of the ecosystem in the Pacific abyss.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make it her policy to introduce a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining until a specific set of environmental, social and governance conditions are in place.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We judge that engaging fully with international negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is the most effective way for the UK to work with others so that no deep-sea mining takes place in the absence of strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards.
The UK’s approach is both precautionary and conditional. As a responsible international actor and Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UK is fully engaged in the negotiations underway at the ISA and will work closely with partners who are committed to ensuring the highest environmental standards are embedded in the Regulatory framework of the ISA.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department plans to take to consult relevant stakeholders on deep-sea mining polices.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK’s approach is both precautionary and conditional. As a responsible international actor and Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UK is fully engaged in the negotiations underway at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and will work closely with partners who are committed to ensuring the highest environmental standards are embedded in the Regulatory framework of the ISA.
We would engage in public consultation ahead of making a decision to issue any UK-sponsored deep sea mining exploitation licence.