The International Seabed Authority discussing deep sea-bed mining
For the first time, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is discussing a consolidated text of the draft deep-sea mineral exploitation regulations. Commercial deep-sea mining has been attracting increased attention, particularly due the potential challenges, including pollution, overfishing, biodiversity and habitat loss, acidification, rising water temperatures, and climate change. Those favouring commercial mining highlight that the need for the supply of materials necessary to the global energy transition. The discussion on the exploitation regulations is now on the ISA´s meeting agenda. Commercial deep-sea mining has already attracted controversial ISDS cases and policymakers should consider how these activities may interact with the ISDS regime.