Brazil's Leticia Carvalho Elected as ISA Secretary-General Amid Rising Deep-Sea Mining Concerns

In a consequential move amidst escalating debates around deep-sea mining, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has announced the election of Leticia Carvalho as its new secretary-general. Carvalho, a Brazilian national with a background in regulating her country's oil sector, is poised to step into a challenging role as head of the UN-mandated entity charged with overseeing the exploitation of seabed minerals, commencing her term in 2025.

The appointment comes at a critical juncture; calls for a hiatus on seabed mining have surged while the energy sector eyes the ocean depths for minerals essential to an evolving energy landscape. Amidst this environmental and geopolitical backdrop, Carvalho's perspectives on seabed mining governance have galvanized attention.

The Brazil native has already shared her philosophy with The Guardian, stating that no mining applications should be considered until a comprehensive legal framework is in place—an endeavor that isn't expected to culminate until 2025, coinciding with her term initiation.

This perspective aligns with burgeoning international concerns. A significant number of states—32, according to the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition—have lobbied for a standstill on deep-sea mining until science can thoroughly guide a regulatory structure that safeguards marine ecosystems.

A recent assembly in Jamaica saw the ISA's 36-member council grappling with the formulation of a mining code that contemplates the regulation of deep-sea exploration and exploit. The urgency of these negotiations is informed by Nauru's invocation of the "two-year rule," a procedural mandate enabling license applications in the absence of a finalized code.

Consequently, The Metals Company (TMC), an entity with ambitions to mine seabed polymetallic nodules, has indicated its intent to apply for such a license by the year's end.

Notwithstanding TMC's assurances—that marine nodule extraction would be a lesser evil compared to land mining—the environmental bloc remains steadfast, voicing dire apprehensions over potential irreversible impacts on ocean biodiversity.

In the face of these challenges, Carvalho's tenure will be closely scrutinized as she navigates the opposing currents of environmental stewardship and the impetus for resource exploitation driven by the energy transition's demands.