Trump is obsessed with critical minerals. There’s a new, dangerous place he’s seeking them

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🗞️ Driving the news: Former President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to jumpstart U.S. commercial deep-sea mining, targeting the mineral-rich Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean
• This controversial move seeks to secure critical minerals like cobalt, nickel, and copper essential for clean energy technologies, but it bypasses ongoing international negotiations and has sparked sharp criticism from environmental groups and the International Seabed Authority

🔭 The context: Interest in deep-sea mining has grown alongside rising demand for critical minerals needed in batteries, electronics, and renewable energy infrastructure
• However, no commercial operations currently exist due to environmental concerns and regulatory uncertainties
• Trump’s push marks a significant shift toward unilateral action, contrasting with widespread calls for a moratorium led by more than 30 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and the UK

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Deep-sea ecosystems are among the most fragile and least understood on Earth, with many species still unknown to science
• Mining activities could cause irreversible biodiversity loss, disturb marine life through noise and sediment plumes, and alter oceanic processes critical to global ecological balance
• Opening a new extractive frontier risks compounding environmental degradation without addressing underlying issues like mineral overconsumption and recycling

⏭️ What's next: The Metals Company, a key player in the deep-sea mining industry, has already submitted an application to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to mine in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
• NOAA's licensing process is underway but expected to face intense scrutiny
• Global negotiations on a deep-sea mining code continue, with 2025 shaping up as a pivotal year for the industry's future trajectory

💬 One quote: "Authorizing deep-sea mining outside international law is like lighting a match in a room full of dynamite — it threatens ecosystems, global cooperation, and U.S. credibility," warned Arlo Hemphill of Greenpeace USA

📈 One stat: Roughly 90% of species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone remain unknown to science, highlighting the profound uncertainties and potential risks of industrial activity in these waters

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