In his opening speech at COP27, President Macron stated, “La France demande l’interdiction de toute exploitation des grands fonds marins. J’assume cette position et je la porterai dans les enceintes internationales.” France is calling for a ban on all exploitation of the deep seabed — a position which he will relay in international fora.
This is a huge step forward in the campaign to stop deep-sea mining, and we applaud France’s leadership. Sofia Tsenikli, Campaign Lead at the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), our partner in this effort, writes, “The tide is turning. Following New Zealand’s announcement of its support for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, this news signals a political shift with more and more states prioritizing protection of the ocean over exploitation.”
If you haven’t yet, make sure to add your name to the public sign-on letter against deep-sea mining today!