To warn about the upcoming mining of the seabed by bulldozers, Greenpeace led a day of global action this Saturday, June 3, 2023. The local branch of Rouen mobilized in front of the cathedral to inform passers-by about this project. .
Bulldozers in the ocean? The idea may seem incongruous but could be real soon according to Greenpeace. Rouen activists from the environmental protection NGO carried out a “happening” action on the forecourt of Rouen Cathedral this Saturday, June 3, 2023 to raise awareness of the ecological risks represented by this future industrial project to send bulldozers to dig up to 6000 meters deep under the sea.
The seabed is known for its biodiversity but also for its mineral wealth, which is of great interest to some mining industrialists. “They want to extract what are called “polymetallic nodules“. These are kinds of potatoes that contain lots of metals, including lithium that could be used for electric batteries.” details Hervé Boutard, Ocean referent for the Rouen group of Greenpeace.
We know very little about these environments, each time scientists discover new species. Industrialists are however ready to exploit them and upset all the ecosystems to extract what are called “poly-metallic nodules”. These are species of potatoes that contain lots of metals, including lithium that could be used for electric batteries. It would be necessary to extract tons of it to collect a few grams, but we still do not know the real impact.
Herve BoutardOcean referent of the local Greenpeace group in Rouen
Activists are mobilizing to raise awareness and stop this project with uncertain environmental consequences according to Hervé Boutard: “We know very little about these environments, each time scientists discover new species, so we ask for an impact study before authorizing this mining operation..
The French government seems to want to respect the precautionary principle and wait for impact studies before authorizing the project. Greenpeace launched a petition so that he now puts pressure on other governments and that this precaution is applied internationally.
Although all the risks for biodiversity are not yet known, certain environmental consequences caused by this mining of the seabed are already raised by environmental activists. Greenpeace list at least 5 on his website:
- thousands ofspecies would be crushed and crushed at the bottom of the ocean,
- the mud released by this activity at the bottom of the water creates clouds that suffocate biodiversity,
- noise and light pollution disturb species accustomed to the calm of the abyss,
- heavy metals diffuse and accumulate in the food chain,
- plowing the seabed risks releasing the carbon dioxide trapped in the organic matter sediments therein
Greenpeace activists organized this day of global action because a mining code must be adopted in July 2023 in order to regulate the mining of the ocean floor. If nothing is done, the International Seabed Authority (ISAF) will begin to accept applications from companies in July wishing to exploit the bottom of the ocean.
With the support of other NGOs, Greenpeace asks for a moratorium to suspend these authorizations as long as impact studies have not been carried out.
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