Greenpeace Faces UN Expulsion Over Deep-Sea Mining Dispute

Environmental NGO Greenpeace is facing expulsion from the UN’s seabed regulatory agency following a confrontation with deep-sea mining firm The Metals Company. In November 2023, Greenpeace activists boarded The Metals Company’s vessel, Coco, in an attempt to block its operations and prevent it from collecting environmental data for a trial run of mining operations. The Metals Company obtained an emergency injunction in the Netherlands, forcing Greenpeace to withdraw its climbers and end the interruption in Coco’s operations.

The Metals Company argues that Greenpeace disrupted its scientific mandate by interfering with the data-gathering mission for the International Seabed Authority. Greenpeace, on the other hand, believes that the environmental risks of deep-sea mining are too high without proper regulations in place. The organization’s campaign leader, Louisa Casson, states that responsible nations are recognizing the irreversible damage that could be caused by deep-sea mining and calls for a moratorium on such activities.

The International Seabed Authority’s 167 member states will vote on whether to revoke Greenpeace’s observer status in light of the altercation with The Metals Company. Greenpeace maintains that the risks of deep-sea mining are too great and that there needs to be a transparent debate on the issue before proceeding with such operations.

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