The International Seabed Authority (ISA), celebrating its 30th anniversary, is working to regulate deep-sea mining to prevent uncontrolled exploitation of rare earth minerals crucial for technology production. ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho stated that the deep seabed is the common heritage of humankind and belongs to no single nation or corporation, urging the United States—which operates independently on deep-sea licensing—to join the ISA. The ISA is drafting a mining code to ensure the deep-sea’s protection and has already issued 31 exploration contracts to firms from 20 countries, though commercial mining awaits the code's finalization.

Despite the challenges of high costs and operational complexities inherent in deep-sea mining, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of international cooperation to ensure sustainable and inclusive governance of this shared resource. The ISA recently launched a Deep-Sea Biobank to preserve and share knowledge of deep-sea biodiversity and resources, underscoring a commitment to responsible exploration and the sustainable use of this critical resource.

Impact Statement: The ISA's efforts to regulate deep-sea mining will significantly impact the future of rare earth mineral extraction, balancing technological advancement with environmental protection and equitable access to resources.