Pacific Sovereignty undermined by deep-sea mining and investor agreements

Deep-sea mining (DSM) is increasingly subjecting Pacific governments to opaque foreign tribunals, which can override national decisions on critical environmental issues, according to a new report from the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG).

The report highlights how these Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms pose a significant threat to the sovereignty of Pacific nations. PANG's Deputy Coordinator, Adam Wolfenden, commented, "This report highlights the very real and serious challenges that Investor-State Dispute Settlement poses to Pacific sovereignty, a threat we are seeing rise through multiple avenues relating to the push for deep-sea mining."

These secretive tribunals have a history in other countries of being used to challenge government actions related to climate change and environmental protection, raising concerns about their potential impact on the Pacific region's governance and its ability to enact necessary environmental policies.

The findings suggest that the push for deep-sea mining activities could lead to further erosion of governmental control, as nations may find their environmental regulations and climate commitments challenged in international courts by foreign investors.

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This report highlights the very real and serious challenges that Investor-State Dispute Settlement poses to Pacific sovereignty, a threat we are seeing rise through multiple avenues relating to the push for deep-sea mining.