Help Us Stop Deep-Sea Mining Today! 

What a wild few weeks it has been for our beautiful blue planet!
 
👉🏽 The Highest Court in the world (The International Court of Justice in The Hague, or ICJ) ruled that states must bring down greenhouse gas emissions to protect life on our planet. This is truly an historic moment that has been years in the making, driven by youth from vulnerable nations in the Pacific and supported by activists the world over. Whilst not legally binding, this is the most authoritative ruling so far in enabling nations to seek compensation for climate related damages AND ruling that governments must regulate their private sector (among many other far-reaching measures). ⚖️ 🌏 
 
👉🏽 Victory for the deep sea (for now). The Council of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has again delayed their decision to open our ocean to deep-sea mining! The mining code that would set the rules for deep-sea mining, has not been finalised as they had sought to do. This is the result of sustained global action and awareness raising, with more and more countries, companies, scientists, and civil society groups joining the call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. During the Assembly of the ISA, another country – Croatia – announced their support for a precautionary pause on this reckless industry, now totally 38! 💪🏽 🌊 
 
But the battle is FAR from over. The Metals Company (TMC), the company most aggressively pushing to mine the deep-sea keeps doubling down. First, they announced they would begin mining, even in the absence of a mining code. More recently, TMC aligned itself with the new U.S. Administration preparedness to bypass the ISA to strip-mine our global ocean. Such a move would undermine international rules-based order and be a slap in the face of decades of negotiations. Despite this hostility, the Council of the ISA has not caved to rush through a decision. In fact, unity among nations pushing back on this aggression is strengthening. 
 
Whilst the deep sea is safe for now, we must get LOUDER on this issue! There can be no doubt, the world cannot afford to unleash a new destructive industry to our ailing planet. The new ICJ ruling should be a wakeup call to our leaders. Deep-sea mining is ecocide and will worsen the climate and nature crises.
 
👉🏽 Last week was a major milestone moment for The Ocean and Us! We now have official observer status to the International Seabed Authority! This means that we can bring your voice, and that of all life in the ocean, to the halls of power in Kingston, Jamaica.
 
On July 24th, The Ocean and Us delivered our first intervention to the Assembly.
 
Big thanks to everyone supported our participation at the ISA. 

👉🏽 Let's take this victory to the finish line and do whatever it takes to stop deep-sea mining from starting. How?

• Keep sharing this petition,
• Protect the deep sea by adopting a deep-sea wonder today! (clicking on take the next step does not support our work, only clicking here will).

Let these victories fuel our hope and determination for a better world.  🙌🏽 💙 🌏 🌊 

Thank you! - Farah Obaidullah, Ocean Advocate, Founder of The Ocean and Us, Women4Oceans and editor of the book The Ocean and Us 💙 🌏 🕊️