The UN Wants Indonesia to Stop Deep-Sea Mining

Indonesia is facing growing pressure from environmental groups to support a global pause on commercial deep-sea mining ahead of a critical United Nations seabed meeting in July, with activists warning that rushing into extraction could cause irreversible damage to some of the planet’s least understood ecosystems.

The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia Coalition is calling on Jakarta to back a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining as countries negotiate rules that could determine whether companies can begin extracting valuable minerals from the ocean floor.

The campaign comes as the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN-backed body responsible for regulating mining in international waters, continues efforts to finalize a global Mining Code governing commercial exploitation of seabed resources. Negotiations remain unresolved over environmental safeguards, inspections, liability and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

Indonesia currently holds a seat on the ISA Council for the 2023–2026 period, giving it influence over discussions that could shape the future of an industry expected to target deposits containing minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese — materials considered important for electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and electronics.

“We are conveying our demands and proposed stance as part of a community that foresees the potential threats of massive ecological damage if deep-sea mining is commercially approved during the UN meeting,” National Coordinator Aryanto Nugroho said.

Supporters of deep-sea mining argue that extracting minerals from the ocean floor could help diversify supplies of critical materials and reduce pressure on some land-based mining operations. Companies involved in the sector say technological advances and environmental monitoring can reduce potential impacts.

But scientists and environmental organizations warn that the deep ocean remains poorly understood, making it difficult to predict the consequences of large-scale industrial activity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that deep-sea mining could create biodiversity loss, disrupt ecosystems and generate sediment plumes that may affect marine life over large areas.

“The deep sea remains one of the least explored environments on Earth, and many gaps remain in our understanding of its biodiversity and ecological functions,” the IUCN has said, warning that these knowledge gaps complicate efforts to establish adequate protections.

The environmental concerns are particularly focused on polymetallic nodules — rock-like formations found thousands of meters below the surface that contain minerals used in modern technologies. Much of the commercial interest has centered on the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area of the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico that contains some of the world’s largest known deposits.

Researchers have warned that damage from seabed disturbance could persist for decades. A study published in the journal Nature found that areas affected by deep-sea mining experiments conducted more than 40 years ago continued to show ecological impacts, including changes to sediment conditions and declines in some larger organisms.

PWYP Indonesia said Jakarta’s position at the ISA should reflect the need for stronger scientific evidence before commercial mining begins.

The coalition called for Indonesia to support a precautionary approach and push for stronger representation from developing countries in negotiations over the Mining Code.

“The potential environmental consequences cannot be separated from questions of justice and sustainability,” the group said, arguing that communities dependent on healthy marine ecosystems could face risks from decisions made far from affected waters.

The debate comes as pressure grows internationally over whether the ISA should accelerate or delay the approval of commercial seabed mining. At its March 2026 Council session, the authority made progress on some elements of the Mining Code but left several major issues unresolved.

Some governments and companies have pushed for faster approval, citing growing demand for critical minerals. Others have called for a moratorium until stronger scientific assessments and regulatory safeguards are in place. More than 40 countries have supported some form of precautionary pause or restrictions on deep-sea mining, according to campaign groups tracking government positions.

The outcome of the July ISA meeting could shape the future of an industry that has moved from scientific exploration toward potential commercial production, while intensifying a global debate over whether the race for minerals needed for the energy transition should extend to the deepest parts of the ocean.

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