Emmanuel Macron was committed during COP27 in favor of a ban.
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The text was voted by an absolute majority. The National Assembly asked Tuesday, January 17, that France is committed to the international scene in favor of a moratorium on the mining of the seabed. Voted by 215 favorable votes against 56, the text was hailed by the Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville, who recalled that Emmanuel Macron was, during COP27, committed to the ban mining in large seabed.
🎉 Victory for seabed and environmentalists!
Our resolution proposal aimed at protecting the M… https://t.co/7HFIKDRWUT OFFER OFFICE (@nicolas Thierry)
The resolution of the Assembly supports, “within the framework of a moratorium, the prohibition of the mining of the seabed on the high seas as long as it has not been demonstrated by independent scientific groups and certainly that this extractive activity can be undertaken without degrading marine ecosystems and without loss of marine biodiversity “.
Pending this demonstration, the deputies ask that France “blocks the adoption of any regulations for the mining of the seabed” by the International Marine Authority (AIFM), “as well as the granting of provisional operating licenses “. The assembly invites the executive to defend this position on the international scene and asks him to support an AIFM reform, for more transparency.
“irreversible” damage
Great seabed, which absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide, arouse lusts, due to the rare metal deposits they house, used in industrial and electronic applications.
Negotiations are underway within the AIFM to open the way for future operating licenses. Environmental defenders are concerned about the risks for ecosystems and vulnerable species in these areas. “If we damage the capacity of the ocean to capture carbon, we no longer have any chance of winning the battle for the climate,” also argued the environmental deputy Nicolas Thierry, who wore this text.
The resolution was co -signed by left -wing deputies and presidential camp. The National Rally group and six deputies of the Republicans are the only ones to have voted against, thus opposing a prohibition which would concern French waters, and which would prejudice according to them in the country.
“We are the first country and the only one at this stage to go beyond a moratorium or a simple precautionary clause,” said hemicycle Hervé Berville, referring to the commitment of ‘Emmanuel Macron. “Our first ambition is to convince as many countries as possible to join us in this fight,” he added, considering that mining “will lead to irreversible damage to marine ecosystems”.