Who – the protagonist
China, one of the world’s biggest economies.
What?
According to a 2020 World Bank Report, global output of cobalt and lithium had to rise by more than 500% by 2050 in order to meet the targets set forth in the Paris Agreement.
Such minerals could be found on the ocean floor. For example, sea beds contained 50,000 times more tellurium than land, which was utilised in high-performance solar panels.
The process of extracting the minerals from seabeds more than 200 metres below the surface was known as deep sea mining (DSM). About 65% of the world was covered by this region, which was home to a wide variety of species, many of which were still unknown to scientists.
The DSM operation involved seafloor vehicles dredging or splitting seabed strata. Mineral-rich deposits were then scooped or suctioned up and taken to a support vessel for processing, storage, and transportation to shore.
Why?
The demand for these minerals was predicted to soar as nations competed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
China was gradually increasing its footprint in DSM, and in the fight against climate change, China could disrupt western supply chains because of its near-monopoly in vital mineral processing.
But as it took the lead in looking for new sources of nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, silver, and gold on seabeds, some countries wanted DSM to stop until its threats to the environment and marine life were better understood.
When?
China possessed five of the 31 exploration licences awarded by the United Nations’ International Seabed Authority (ISA), the most of any country, in preparation for the launch of DSM as early as 2025.
With the launch of DSM, China would have exclusive rights to excavate 92,000 square miles of international seabed - roughly the size of the United Kingdom - or 17% of the total area currently permitted by the ISA.
Where?
Chinese vessels searching for minerals could be found in the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic oceans.
Key quote
What next?
Many nations and environmental organisations were demanding that seabed mining be prohibited or put on hold since there was a lack of international standards and understanding of the environmental implications of deep sea mining.
The ISA was determining the best way to manage mining.
Would China’s quest for the deep sea’s resources affect the environment in the long run?
On reasons for writing the case…
Angshupriya said: “Deep sea mining is growing rapidly but its impact on the environment isn’t fully known. China is a major player in deep sea mining that not only affects local ecosystems but also has a huge impact on the world’s oceans and climate.
“The case will hopefully raise awareness about the environmental implications of deep sea mining and the need for sustainable practices.
“The case can be used to make policy decisions and regulations regarding deep sea mining, while teaching environmental sustainability, international business and policy studies.”
On the case writing challenges…
Angshupriya continued: “The technologies that enable the global clean energy transition - solar, wind, and electric vehicle batteries - all depend on critical minerals present in large amounts under the sea. These minerals can be extracted through deep sea mining which can adversely impact the environment in the long run. It was challenging as well as interesting to bring out this dilemma.
“Also, deep sea mining is a complex technical process and needed to be described in a lucid manner for a non-technical audience.
“The case required an interdisciplinary approach across subjects like environmental science, economics and politics which was challenging to integrate.”
On teaching the case…
She added: “Teaching the case is a stimulating experience as students actively engage in discussions to analyse the complex trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection. The case encourages critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills, leading to a lively debate. It prepares students for complex business decision making in a global context.”
On how the students react to the case…
She explained: “Students are very enthusiastic about the case. Some students express concern about how China’s deep sea mining initiatives could endanger delicate ecosystems, destroy biodiversity, and have unintended effects for global climate regulation. Others emphasise the need for China to secure strategic resources.
“There is usually discussion about how countries should implement rigorous rules for deep sea mining, invest in sustainable technologies, and prioritise international collaboration for the same. The ocean is a shared legacy, and maintaining its health is a collective obligation to future generations.”
On case writing tips…
Angshupriya concluded: “A good case tells a story that can engage the reader and conveys the key issues. It should also have a strong dilemma that invokes debate and discussion in class. The case should help to connect with relevant theoretical concepts, models or frameworks of the course it's used on.”
The case
Who – the protagonist
China, one of the world’s biggest economies.
What?
According to a 2020 World Bank Report, global output of cobalt and lithium had to rise by more than 500% by 2050 in order to meet the targets set forth in the Paris Agreement.
Such minerals could be found on the ocean floor. For example, sea beds contained 50,000 times more tellurium than land, which was utilised in high-performance solar panels.
The process of extracting the minerals from seabeds more than 200 metres below the surface was known as deep sea mining (DSM). About 65% of the world was covered by this region, which was home to a wide variety of species, many of which were still unknown to scientists.
The DSM operation involved seafloor vehicles dredging or splitting seabed strata. Mineral-rich deposits were then scooped or suctioned up and taken to a support vessel for processing, storage, and transportation to shore.
Why?
The demand for these minerals was predicted to soar as nations competed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
China was gradually increasing its footprint in DSM, and in the fight against climate change, China could disrupt western supply chains because of its near-monopoly in vital mineral processing.
But as it took the lead in looking for new sources of nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, silver, and gold on seabeds, some countries wanted DSM to stop until its threats to the environment and marine life were better understood.
When?
China possessed five of the 31 exploration licences awarded by the United Nations’ International Seabed Authority (ISA), the most of any country, in preparation for the launch of DSM as early as 2025.
With the launch of DSM, China would have exclusive rights to excavate 92,000 square miles of international seabed - roughly the size of the United Kingdom - or 17% of the total area currently permitted by the ISA.
Where?
Chinese vessels searching for minerals could be found in the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic oceans.
Key quote
What next?
Many nations and environmental organisations were demanding that seabed mining be prohibited or put on hold since there was a lack of international standards and understanding of the environmental implications of deep sea mining.
The ISA was determining the best way to manage mining.
Would China’s quest for the deep sea’s resources affect the environment in the long run?
Author perspective
On reasons for writing the case…
Angshupriya said: “Deep sea mining is growing rapidly but its impact on the environment isn’t fully known. China is a major player in deep sea mining that not only affects local ecosystems but also has a huge impact on the world’s oceans and climate.
“The case will hopefully raise awareness about the environmental implications of deep sea mining and the need for sustainable practices.
“The case can be used to make policy decisions and regulations regarding deep sea mining, while teaching environmental sustainability, international business and policy studies.”
On the case writing challenges…
Angshupriya continued: “The technologies that enable the global clean energy transition - solar, wind, and electric vehicle batteries - all depend on critical minerals present in large amounts under the sea. These minerals can be extracted through deep sea mining which can adversely impact the environment in the long run. It was challenging as well as interesting to bring out this dilemma.
“Also, deep sea mining is a complex technical process and needed to be described in a lucid manner for a non-technical audience.
“The case required an interdisciplinary approach across subjects like environmental science, economics and politics which was challenging to integrate.”
On teaching the case…
She added: “Teaching the case is a stimulating experience as students actively engage in discussions to analyse the complex trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection. The case encourages critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills, leading to a lively debate. It prepares students for complex business decision making in a global context.”
On how the students react to the case…
She explained: “Students are very enthusiastic about the case. Some students express concern about how China’s deep sea mining initiatives could endanger delicate ecosystems, destroy biodiversity, and have unintended effects for global climate regulation. Others emphasise the need for China to secure strategic resources.
“There is usually discussion about how countries should implement rigorous rules for deep sea mining, invest in sustainable technologies, and prioritise international collaboration for the same. The ocean is a shared legacy, and maintaining its health is a collective obligation to future generations.”
On case writing tips…
Angshupriya concluded: “A good case tells a story that can engage the reader and conveys the key issues. It should also have a strong dilemma that invokes debate and discussion in class. The case should help to connect with relevant theoretical concepts, models or frameworks of the course it's used on.”
