Many countries have begun deep-sea mining to meet the rising demand for raw materials in the economy. Specifically, materials such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite have been found in the sea bed and are extracted to produce and meet the demand for EV batteries.

To further understand the communities’ point of view on this topic, Real Research, an online survey app, launched a survey on Deep Sea Mining.

Highlights:

  • 68.44% believe that deep sea mining could negatively affect the environment.
  • Out of the 5000 respondents, 62.04% agree that deep-sea mining should stop.
  • 7 in 10 people have pointed out that countries need to find sustainable alternative resources.

Deep sea mining in international waters

As countries continue to conduct their deep sea mining activities in international waters, experts have pointed out that this could pose a potential risk in the future. Additionally, 68.44% of the respondents claimed that deep sea mining could negatively affect the environment. Meanwhile, 31.56% of the respondents disagreed.

deep-sea-mining
Figure 1: Will deep sea mining affect the environment? 

Effects of deep sea mining on the environment

So what could be the solution if deep sea mining could pose a potential risk to the environment? Around 62.04% of the survey participants have pointed out that deep sea mining should stop. Moreover, the community has also pointed out that the UN needs to take the necessary action to prevent this from happening.

Should-deep-sea-mining-be-stopped
Figure 2: Should deep sea mining be stopped?

The future of the sea bed environment

As the demand for raw materials continues to rise, countries are forced to such dire actions, harming the environment in the process. 7 in 10 people have pointed out that countries need to find sustainable alternative resources. Meanwhile, 29.44% don’t think countries should find alternative resources.

Should-countries-find-alternative-resources
Figure 3: Should countries find alternative resources

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on Deep Sea Mining
DurationMarch 22 – April 02, 2024
Number of Participants5,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,… Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.