The Elements of Deep Sea Mining

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Lars Kristian Trellevik, Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer at Adepth Minerals, speaks with Eric about the complexities and challenges of exploring and potentially mining the deep sea. They discuss Trellevik's long experience of deep sea operations, the philosophical underpinnings of Deep Ecology, and the importance of systems thinking in addressing the energy transition. Lars Kristian also explores his first hand experience in the polarized debate surrounding deep sea mining, the precautionary principle, and the need for responsible research and regulation. Trellevik emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader context of deep sea mining and the misconceptions that often arise in public discourse.

Keep up with Lars Kristian on LinkedIn and read the publications discussed at his ResearchGate page and his Blog “Deep-Sea Minerals: On Hubris, Morality and Asymmetric Uncertainty”

Time stamps

* 02:08 The Philosophy of Deep Ecology and its Relevance

* 05:36 Systems Thinking and Trade-offs in Energy Transition

* 12:42 The Polarized Debate on Deep Sea Mining

* 19:01 Uncertainty and the Precautionary Principle in Deep Sea Mining

* 36:53 Exploring ADEPTH's Focus on Deep Sea Minerals

* 41:54 Navigating the Licensing Process for Deep Sea Mining

* 48:01 Understanding Public Perception and Trust in Government

* 57:37 Addressing Misconceptions in Deep Sea Mining

* 01:05:19 Critiquing the Dark Oxygen Hypothesis

Theme music Tamarack by Jesse Matas

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tradingoff.substack.com/subscribe

Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred player

Eric is joined by journalist Elyse Hauser, whose work on deep-sea mining brings a much-needed depth to a topic often superficially covered. Elyse shares her transition from marketing to journalism, motivated by her passion for environmental integrity and her deep connection to aquatic environments.

We delve into how deep-sea mining is portrayed in the media, the misconceptions prevalent in public discourse, and the complexities overlooked in mainstream narratives. Elyse discusses the journalistic challenges and responsibilities in covering such a multifaceted subject, emphasizing the need for greater investigative depth and critical analysis.

Elyse’s Substack Notes From the Deep is a treasure trove of information, entertainment, and nuance on all things deep sea.

Time stamps

* 00:00 Introduction to Deep Sea Mining and Journalism

* 05:12 Complexities of Deep Sea Mining

* 12:01 Gaps in Mainstream Media Reporting

* 16:16 Narratives in Deep Sea Mining Coverage

* 22:52 Comparing Research and Journalism

* 27:27 Editorial Challenges in Journalism

* 34:58 The Complexities of Deep Sea Mining Narratives

* 39:16 Norway's Unique Position in Deep Sea Mining

* 45:20 The U.S. Approach to Deep Sea Mining

* 52:10 Media's Role in Deep Sea Mining Discourse

Theme music Tamarack by Jesse Matas

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tradingoff.substack.com/subscribe

This podcast has 3 aims

1- to share knowledge about deep sea mining, and about the drivers of the deep sea mining conversation: critical minerals, ecosystem integrity, geopolitics, ethical values.

2- to give access to viewpoints from all sides of the deep sea mining conversation. So that those involved have a chance to be heard and understood and to hear and to understand one another.

3- To explore the central issues of sustainability, externalities, and the energy transition through the test case of deep sea mining.

Philosophers like to choose artificially extreme versions of real world problems as thought experiments to help explore a point. I was originally attracted to deep sea mining as a thought experiment for the material impacts of the energy transition and the difficult trade-offs that we are forced to face. Deep sea mining is a useful test case for many of these ideas, both because it is a quintessential dilemma of the current moment, and because the nuances and details which are often being left out of the conversations are crucial for understanding and for making responsible decisions.

Going forward I will release interviews with key deep sea mining experts as well as relevant thinkers on related topics.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tradingoff.substack.com/subscribe