Sacrificing the Ocean to Save the Planet

About this episode

The episode explores the implications of deep-sea mining for sustainability and environmental justice.

Beneath the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean lies an unseen world: deep seabeds dotted with metal-rich nodules that some claim are vital for the green transition. As demand grows for minerals used in renewable technologies and batteries, governments and companies are increasingly turning their eyes toward the deep ocean. In this episode, King’s College London academics Dr Ben Tippet and Dr Rowan Gard unpack the promises, pitfalls and politics of deep-sea mining. Together, they explore whether harvesting minerals from the ocean floor offers a sustainable path forward, or whether it risks repeating historical patterns of extraction and inequality. As the world races toward net-zero goals, decisions made now will shape ocean health, community futures and global environmental justice for generations. This episode asks the question at the heart of the debate: Do we need deep-sea mining – or do we need to reimagine our relationship with the planet? Spheres of Knowledge on Substack Enjoyed this episode? Get more accessible, thought‑provoking posts every weekday on Spheres of Knowledge . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to…

People in this episode

Guests: Dr Ben Tippet, Dr Rowan Gard

Topics covered

• deep-sea mining
• sustainability
• environmental justice
• green transition
• ocean health

Keywords

• deep-sea mining
• ocean
• sustainability
• renewable technologies
• environmental justice
• net-zero goals
• extraction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: King's College London, Spheres of Knowledge