Short Wave – “Sea Camp: To Mine Or Not To Mine”
NPR • Hosts: Emily Kwong & Regina Barber • August 25, 2025
Episode Overview
In the final episode of the "Sea Camp" summer series, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber dive into the controversial topic of deep sea mining. They explore the science, politics, and environmental stakes surrounding the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from the ocean’s benthic zone. With exclusive insights from scientists and industry leaders, the episode evaluates whether deep sea mining is a necessary step toward a “green transition” or a dangerous threat to irreplaceable marine ecosystems.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction to Deep Sea Mining
- The ocean floor (benthic zone) hosts nodules containing rare earth elements, critical for modern technologies (phones, EVs, fighter jets).
- Current land-based mining practices are highly destructive; thus, interest shifts to deep sea mining.
“The deep sea is home to a lot of things... but it’s also home to nodules of rare earth elements used for everything from smartphones to electric cars...”
— Emily Kwong [00:41]
2. The Regulatory Wild West
- Deep sea mining is largely unregulated; the UN International Seabed Authority (ISA) is working on rules.
- Some companies and countries, unsatisfied with the pace, are pushing forward without waiting for regulations.
- Examples: U.S. under President Trump fast-tracking mining; Norway’s government contemplating issuing licenses soon.
“The deep sea cannot become the Wild West.”
— UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (quoted by Emily) [01:41]
“They want green transition, but they don’t want the effect of the green transition because the green transition is, is mining. You cannot take that out.”
— Walter Sognes, CEO, Glomar Minerals [03:06]
3. Science of the Nodules – Formation and Ecosystem Importance
a. Formation of Nodules
- Form in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) – international waters between Hawaii and Mexico.
- Two formation processes:
- Adsorption: Metals accumulate on falling objects (bones, teeth) over millions of years from the water column.
- Diffusion: Microbes break down organic marine snow, releasing metals that migrate up and attach to nodules.
- Nodules grow at just tens of millimeters per million years—effectively non-renewable.
“The CCZ is an ancient and pristine place. It’s kind of like an old-growth forest, but in the ocean.”
— Emily Kwong [06:01]
“At an average rate of tens of millimeters per million years... these nodules are not a renewable resource.”
— Emily Kwong [06:20]
b. Ecosystem Anchors
- Serve as essential habitats for corals, anemones, worms, brittle stars, crustaceans, and countless microorganisms.
4. Green Transition vs. Environmental Impact
- Proponents argue deep sea mining is crucial for the transition to green tech due to metals needed in EV batteries and wind turbines.
- Other technology shifts (e.g., sodium-ion batteries) and recycling offer alternatives, though still in the early stages.
“Standing on the shoulders or the foundation for a green transition is all these different minerals...”
— Walter Sognes [08:41]
- Currently, China dominates REE supply chains, raising concerns about global dependence and environmental regulation standards.
“The issue is then where are they mined from and who is controlling the mining.”
— Walter Sognes [09:26]
5. Environmental Uncertainties and Known Risks
- Historic mining “test sites” in the CCZ and Peru Basin simulate long-term effects.
- Recovery in disturbed areas is extremely slow—decades later, environments show little to no rebound.
“The sediment had very little recovery.”
— Emily Kwong [12:27]
“They basically looked like yesterday. The specific fauna that needs these hard substrates... for their life, the basis... is gone permanently on our human timescales.”
— Matthias Haeckel, Marine Geochemist [12:29 / 12:55]
- Mining vehicles generate sediment “plumes,” affecting water and habitats well beyond the extraction site.
- 38 countries have called for a moratorium—to pause deep sea mining until impacts are better understood.
“It is clear these environments are fragile. They take a long time to recover.”
— Emily Kwong [13:41]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Political & Economic Stakes:
“Walter equates REEs to oil, which is largely controlled by countries in the Middle East. ... Deep sea mining could be an effective short-term solution to distributing that power...”
— Regina Barber [09:59] -
On Technological Shifts:
“There is a push to not use metals that would be mined in the oceans though.” — Emily Kwong [09:09] -
On Irreplaceable Loss:
“If mining were to ever happen someday and nodules were to be removed, Matthias says they would not come back anytime soon.”
— Emily Kwong [12:51] -
On Caution and Balance:
“It does have to be a balance. But what is the right balance, you know?”
— Emily Kwong [11:23]
Key Timestamps
- 00:41: Introduction to deep sea nodules and their technology relevance
- 01:24: Regulatory status & ISA background
- 02:17: Countries pushing ahead; the case of Norway & The Metals Company
- 05:02: Science of the CCZ and nodule formation begins
- 08:20: Economic argument for deep sea mining; green transition
- 09:26: Geopolitics of mineral control; China’s dominance
- 11:03: Recycling & techno-innovation challenges
- 12:04: Deep-sea disturbance experiments and results
- 13:41: Call for moratorium and reflections on ecosystem fragility
Conclusion
This episode brings listeners to the crossroads of climate solutions and conservation, highlighting that the promise of deep sea mining comes with profound scientific, ethical, and environmental questions. While proponents champion it as necessary for green technology and strategic autonomy, scientists warn of lasting, possibly irreversible damage to some of Earth’s most ancient and unspoiled ecosystems. The debate continues, with the future of the ocean’s “old-growth forests” hanging in the balance.