The Climate Question - Should we mine the deep ocean?

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In the global race for critical minerals - could the seabed provide solutions? Or should we leave these metal-rich environments undisturbed?

Governments and mining companies around the world are on the hunt for the critical minerals we need for the green tech transition. And there’s growing interest in an unlikely source – potato-shaped nodules that are found kilometres below the surface of our oceans.

These polymetallic nodules contain high levels of elements like cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper. Supporters of deep-sea mining say that harvesting them might be less damaging to the environment than mining on land. But many scientists support a moratorium; they say industrial activity on the seabed could damage the biodiversity of a fragile part of our planet.

The BBC’s Climate and Science Reporter Georgina Rannard has been following the deep-sea mining debate for five years. She chats to Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar.

Got a question or comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Production team: Simon Watts, Graihagh Jackson, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom Brignell
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Simon Watts

Picture Credit: A Brittle Star, Michael Zeigler via Getty Images

Published on Sunday, 24th May 2026.

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