Model UN Background Guide

Committee: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Topic: Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium

Conference Year: 2025

Topic Background

Deep-sea mining involves the extraction of mineral resources from the ocean floor, typically at depths of 200 meters to several kilometers. These resources include polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, and massive sulfide deposits, which contain valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. These metals are critical for modern technologies, including renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and electronics.

Interest in deep-sea mining has grown sharply in the last two decades due to increasing demand for these metals and concerns over terrestrial mining’s environmental and social impacts. However, the deep ocean remains one of the least understood ecosystems on Earth, and mining activities pose significant risks to fragile habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), regulates mineral-related activities in international waters beyond national jurisdiction (the “Area”). The ISA has issued exploration contracts but has yet to approve commercial mining licenses, citing the need for robust environmental regulations.

Calls for a moratorium on commercial deep-sea mining have intensified recently. Environmental NGOs, some states, and scientific bodies argue that insufficient scientific knowledge and regulatory frameworks necessitate a pause on mining activities until further research clarifies environmental impacts. Conversely, some resource-rich states and private companies advocate for progressing to commercial mining to secure critical minerals for economic development and technological innovation.

The topic’s urgency is heightened by the ISA’s ongoing development of exploitation regulations, expected to be finalized soon, which could open the door to commercial mining. UNEP, as the UN’s leading environmental authority, has increasingly engaged with the issue, emphasizing precautionary principles and ecosystem-based management approaches. The 2025 UNEP session provides a critical forum to discuss potential international measures, including a moratorium, to balance resource needs with ocean conservation.

Key Actors

States:

• Pacific Island States (e.g., Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati): Many hold exploration contracts with the ISA and have economic interests in seabed mining. They often emphasize the potential for economic development but express concerns about environmental safeguards.
• European Union Member States: Generally cautious, with many EU countries supporting a precautionary approach and advocating for a moratorium or strict regulations before commercial mining proceeds.
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Caribbean States: Often aligned with environmental NGOs, emphasizing the ecological risks and calling for moratoria or bans, given their reliance on healthy oceans for livelihoods.
• China and Russia: Major players in deep-sea mining exploration and technology development, advocating for regulated commercial mining, emphasizing resource security and economic benefits.
• United States: While not a party to UNCLOS, the US is active in marine scientific research and environmental protection, often supporting precautionary approaches but balancing economic interests.

International Organizations:

• International Seabed Authority (ISA): Central regulatory body managing deep-sea mining activities in international waters, responsible for issuing exploration contracts and developing exploitation regulations.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Provides scientific assessments, environmental policy guidance, and promotes sustainable ocean governance.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Offers scientific expertise and advocates for biodiversity protection in deep-sea environments.
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO: Supports marine scientific research and data sharing relevant to deep-sea ecosystems.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs):

• Groups such as Greenpeace, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) actively campaign for a moratorium, highlighting scientific uncertainty and ecological risks.

Bloc Positions

1. Pro-Mining Bloc (Resource-Dependent and Industrializing States):
   Includes Pacific Island States with ISA contracts (e.g., Nauru, Tonga), China, Russia, and some developing countries seeking economic growth through resource extraction. This bloc emphasizes the need for responsible mining to secure critical minerals, supports ISA’s regulatory framework, and opposes indefinite moratoria that may hinder development.

2. Precautionary Bloc (Environmental Advocates and Developed Nations):
   Comprising many EU member states, Canada, New Zealand, and some SIDS, this group advocates for a moratorium or stringent environmental safeguards before commercial mining proceeds. They stress precaution, scientific research, and ecosystem-based management to prevent irreversible damage.

3. Conservation-Focused Bloc (Small Island States and Environmental NGOs):
   Includes Caribbean SIDS, Pacific SIDS without mining interests, and NGOs. This bloc calls for an immediate and indefinite moratorium or outright ban on deep-sea mining, citing insufficient scientific understanding and the potential for catastrophic biodiversity loss. They emphasize ocean health and long-term sustainability over short-term economic gains.

4. Neutral or Ambivalent States:
   Some countries, including the United States and Japan, maintain a balanced position. They support further scientific research and environmental assessments, cautious regulatory development, and international cooperation but have not taken a definitive stance on a moratorium.

Past UN Action

• UNEP Reports on Marine Biodiversity and Deep-Sea Mining (multiple reports, 2010s-2020s): Provided scientific assessments highlighting ecological risks and knowledge gaps.
• ISA Exploration Contracts and Regulations Development (ongoing): While not a UN resolution, ISA’s regulatory process is central to the issue.
• UN General Assembly Resolutions on Oceans and Law of the Sea: Including those endorsing the development of the ISA and emphasizing marine environmental protection, though none specifically mandate a moratorium on deep-sea mining.
• UNEP Governing Council Decisions: Past sessions have recognized the importance of precaution and called for enhanced scientific research on deep-sea mining impacts.

Questions a Resolution Should Answer

1. Should UNEP endorse a moratorium on commercial deep-sea mining until further scientific evidence is available?
2. What mechanisms can be established or strengthened to ensure environmental impact assessments and monitoring are rigorous and transparent?
3. How can UNEP support capacity-building and technology transfer to developing states engaged in deep-sea mining exploration?
4. What role should the ISA and other international bodies play in coordinating environmental standards and enforcement?
5. How can precautionary principles be operationalized in the regulation of deep-sea mining activities?
6. What funding or international cooperation frameworks are necessary to support marine scientific research on deep-sea ecosystems?
7. How should the interests of vulnerable and resource-dependent states be balanced with environmental protection goals?

Further Reading

• UN Documents: Scientific assessments and reports issued by UNEP, ISA’s official documents on exploration contracts and regulatory frameworks, and relevant UN General Assembly resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea. These provide authoritative information on legal frameworks, environmental considerations, and international policy developments.

• Think-Tank Reports: Analyses from marine policy and environmental organizations such as the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Stockholm Environment Institute. These sources offer critical perspectives on environmental risks, economic implications, and governance challenges related to deep-sea mining.

• News Outlets: Coverage from reputable international media such as Reuters, BBC, and specialized science news platforms like Science Daily or Nature News. These provide updates on recent developments, stakeholder positions, and emerging scientific findings relevant to the debate on deep-sea mining.

This background guide is designed to provide delegates with a comprehensive understanding of the complex environmental, economic, and political dimensions of the deep-sea mining moratorium debate within UNEP in 2025. Delegates are encouraged to research their country’s specific interests and regional dynamics to effectively contribute to committee discussions and draft resolutions.