Perhaps most importantly, Tim De Chant, senior climate reporter at TechCrunch, highlights the growing interest in deep-sea mining. We couldn’t agree more that this issue is central to determining the health of our economy and our environment. Well, in April, Impossible Metals, a startup focused on deep-sea mining, made waves. They filed an official application for leases to survey and mine precious metals from the seabed. The new proposal, however, does more than simply shift the focus back towards the environment.
De Chant received a PhD in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley. They are graduates of St. Olaf College in environmental studies, English, and biology. His scholarly expertise shapes how he covers the potential consequences of escalating deep-sea mining operations. Impossible Metals’ proposed operations are estimated to add billions to American economic growth and significantly increase national security. This is particularly important as China remains the primary force in almost every key mineral market, including cobalt.
The mining of polymetallic nodules, which take millions of years to grow on the seabed, comes with huge environmental risks. These fused nuggets hold the key to a wealth of minerals dissolved in seawater, like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Organisms that inhabit these deep-sea ecosystems take a long time to develop, so any disturbance from mining activities is especially harmful and worrying. Research indicates that microbial communities can take at least 50 years to sufficiently recover from disturbances. This indicates a deep long-term ecological effect.
In 2018, De Chant was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. This unique experience provided him with an unparalleled opportunity to study climate technologies and to learn the most about the challenging interactions between technological advancement and climate change. He makes an urgent call to intentionally assess mining operations. This is vital to safeguard fragile deep-sea ecosystems from permanent destruction.
Impossible Metals’ request to the federal government has sparked an interesting and critical discussion between policymakers and environmental advocates. Proponents further contend that ensuring reliable access to critical minerals by utilizing domestic sources—like mining—ensures we are not overly reliant on foreign supplies. On the other hand, critics are already cautioning that the environmental impact may heavily eclipse any projected positive economic impact.