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Could deep-sea mining sustain sustainability? The international seabed authority and the UN 2030 agenda

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  • Klimašauskaitė, Aistė
  • Drivdal, Laura Elisabet
  • Larsen, Håkon
  • Nedelciu, Claudiu Eduard

Abstract

Madureira et al. (2023)published a timely article about the role of deep-sea mining in sustainable development – UN Agenda 2030. We take the opportunity to join the discussion initiated by the authors and highlight the known challenges in deep-sea mining discussions using rich, empirical social and natural science literature. Our premise is the following: sustainable development depends on careful assessment of pressing, known issues that need attention. Local problems require context-specific, local solutions to make propositions about the future and sustainability unambiguous and workable. Meaningful discussions on sustainability in relation to ocean and terrestrial mining depend on engagement with a broad body of literature, from anthropology to human geography, policy and governance research, among others. In sum, we hope to contribute to a more comprehensive interdisciplinary discussion on the contested topic of deep-sea mining and its role in sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Klimašauskaitė, Aistė & Drivdal, Laura Elisabet & Larsen, Håkon & Nedelciu, Claudiu Eduard, 2024. "Could deep-sea mining sustain sustainability? The international seabed authority and the UN 2030 agenda," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:98:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724006998
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105332
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    1. van Rensburg, Thomas M. & Khan, Mohammad Asif & Brennan, Noreen, 2025. "To mine or not to mine, that is the question: Assessing public preferences for deep-sea mining using a choice experiment in Norway," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Bellanger, Manuel & Scemama, Pierre & Bailly, Denis & Friedman, Shani & Massé, Ugo & Richard, Joëlle & Thébaud, Olivier, 2025. "A stakeholder perspective on the drivers and barriers influencing the emergence of deep-sea mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).

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