About nickel & our appetite for It: Where is it found, on land and at sea? In what ecosystems? Who extracts it, where, how and what for?
Braun, L.; Lyons, Y.; Reitsma, R. (2025). About nickel & our appetite for It: Where is it found, on land and at sea? In what ecosystems? Who extracts it, where, how and what for? Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS): London. 39 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5238256
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| Author keywords |
seabed mining, nickel demand, environmental impact, geopolitics, critical minerals, energy transition |
| Authors | | Top |
- Braun, L.
- Lyons, Y.
- Reitsma, R.
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| Abstract |
There is a fierce and ongoing debate about the acceptability of seabed mineral mining that includes whether its environmental impact would exceed that of terrestrial mining. However, most reports embrace either a pro-environment or pro-industry perspective, relying on different data sources, methodologies, and numbers. They also examine little the impacts of land mining, the implications of using different technologies or approaches in different areas, or the broader forces shaping these activities.This factsheet presents our own investigation of the peer-reviewed literature (where available), starting with nickel, a mineral found both on land and on the seabed. We attempt to form an independent view on the drivers of exploitation and environmental impacts from land mining compared with seabed mining and the scientific uncertainty attached. Four key takeaway points concern: (1) Difficulties encountered in comparing nickel mining on land and at sea; (2) The influence of geopolitical factors; (3) The complexity of the forces at play; and, (4) the high environmental standards being developed for seabed mining at sea compared to land mining. |
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