Seabed Mining for the Sake of Clean Energy Is a Wicked Trade-Off

Deep-sea mining would cause "extensive and irreversible" damage to sensitive habitats.NOAA This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. An investigation by conservationists has found evidence that deep-seabed mining of rare minerals could cause "extensive and irreversible" damage to the planet. The report, published on Monday by the international wildlife charity Fauna & Flora, adds to the growing controversy that surrounds proposals to sweep the ocean floor of rare minerals that include cobalt, manganese and nickel. Mining companies want to exploit these deposits--which are crucial to the alternative energy sector--because land supplies are running low, they say.