Alex introducing her PhD thesis on the topic: “The Politics of Deep Sea Mining: The International Seabed Authority and the Pacific”

I first joined the research team for the project “Into the Deep: Analysing the Actors and Controversies Driving the Adoption of the World’s First Deep Sea Mining Governance,” as a research assistant back in 2023. At the time, I was doing a degree in International Relations – my MA dissertation focused on global health governance. The parallels with DSM governance piqued my interest and had me hooked. I’m now a PhD student on the project. I’m interested ingovernance and power structures embedded in the regulatory framework of DSM; in understanding the ramifications of resource extraction within the Global South, particularly in the Pacific region.

My PhD thesis, titled “The Politics of Deep Sea Mining: The International Seabed Authority and the Pacific”, is on the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which is responsible for the regulation and management of DSM in international waters beyond areas of national jurisdiction. The ISA is developing the rules, regulations, and procedures of DSM in real time. These policies stand to impact the global economy and environment: this impact will be felt most strongly in Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and their communities, which stand on the doorstep of DSM! Some estimates say that should DSM go ahead, it could generate $31 billion in net earnings over 25 years (Lipton, 2024; United States Securities and Exchange Commission, 2021). But concerns persist over its environmental impacts and potential to exacerbate the climate crisis. Some view DSM as an economic opportunity, while others highlight risks of irreversible damage and the limited influence of PICs in shaping DSM governance.

In short, my PhD thesis looks into the participation of the PICs in decision-making processes and negotiations at the ISA. I specifically want to understand the power dynamics and actors at work in negotiations. This research is important for understanding the interests and actors within DSM, the voices that get heard, and the implications for equity, sustainability, and development within the Pacific region.

References:
Lipton, E. (2024, July 4). Fight Over Seabed Agency Leadership Turns Nasty. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/04/us/politics/seabed-agency-mining.html

United States Securities and Exchange Commission. (2021). TMC the metals company Inc (TMC the Metals Company Inc). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1798562/000121390021051893/fs12021_tmcthemetals.htm