Elizabeth Claire Alberts

COP30: What did it deliver for the ocean? Between Nov. 10 and 21, more than 56,000 delegates, including representatives from nearly 200 nations, gathered in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the U.N...

Great summary of what #COP30 delivered for the ocean by
@elizabethalberts.bsky.social in @mongabaylatam.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2025/11/cop3...

Challenges persist in TMC’s bid to mine the deep sea, even after boost from Trump After years of delay, the deep-sea mining plans of Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) now appear to be progressing as it pursues a controversial new path to securing a license to mine in internati...

For more context, the first part of my investigation looks at the web of companies connected to TMC—including ties to Nautilus Minerals and Deep Sea Mining Finance—and the challenges TMC still faces in its deep-sea mining quest, even with political support.
news.mongabay.com/custom-story...

Beyond TMC, firms like Impossible Metals and American Metal are also using the national security frame, emphasizing U.S. economic resilience, military readiness, and energy security.

An analysis of TMC's 130+ press releases conducted by @mongabay.com @ocean-elly.bsky.social and @pulitzercenter.bsky.social showed a steep rise in terms like “sustainability” and “clean energy” in 2019‑2020—but by 2024, language around “defense”, “security”, and “China” eclipsed green messaging.

A sales-pitch pivot brings deep-sea mining closer to reality Early on, Canada-based The Metals Company cast the rocks it seeks to mine from the deep seafloor as a crucial resource for electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies, positioning them as ...

TMC once pitched deep-sea mining as a fix for green tech like EVs. Now it's all about U.S. national security. This pivot helped TMC align with U.S. political goals—and brought its mining ambitions closer to reality. @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social
news.mongabay.com/custom-story...

Challenges Persist in TMC’s Bid To Mine the Deep Sea, Even After Boost From Trump After years of delay, the deep-sea mining plans of Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) now appear to be progressing as it pursues a controversial new path to securing a license to mine in...

The Canadian firm The Metals Company pursue of securing a license to mine in international waters under U.S. jurisdiction appears to be progressing.

Yet, many question how smoothly TMC’s plans might unfold.

#ORN Fellow @elizabethalberts.bsky.social reports for #Mongabay. bit.ly/3ISsefh

Challenges persist in TMC’s bid to mine the deep sea, even after boost from Trump After years of delay, the deep-sea mining plans of Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) now appear to be progressing as it pursues a controversial new path to securing a license to mine in internati...

@mongabay.com has also revealed that key figures behind TMC—including former Nautilus execs—are now leading a new Texas-based venture: American Metal. Formed in 2025, it’s promising “sustainable” deep-sea mining for the U.S. market. @pulitzercenter.bsky.social news.mongabay.com/custom-story...

PNG PM Marape rejects deep-sea mining even as provincial authorities try to revive project This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network, where Elizabeth Claire Alberts is a fellow. NICE, France — James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, voiced his g...

One of those ties: DSMF, which holds a stake in TMC, ran a disputed mining operation off PNG in 2024 that caught regulators off guard. Now PNG’s prime minister says the gov’t is investigating. @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social @john-cannon.bsky.social news.mongabay.com/2025/06/png-...

Challenges persist in TMC’s bid to mine the deep sea, even after boost from Trump After years of delay, the deep-sea mining plans of Canadian firm The Metals Company (TMC) now appear to be progressing as it pursues a controversial new path to securing a license to mine in internati...

TMC’s deep-sea mining push is moving ahead, but critics warn of legal fights, ecological damage, and global backlash. Its ties to controversial past ventures like Nautilus & DSMF raise even more red flags. @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social #DeepSeaMining news.mongabay.com/custom-story...

U.S. Federal Agency Clears Ways for Deep-Sea Mining — and Companies Are Lining Up The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced rule changes that would accelerate deep-sea mining in U.S. waters. The move includes shortened environmental review timelines and....

The U.S. recently announced rule changes that would accelerate deep-sea mining.

Experts warn that the rapid push to open the outer continental shelf to mining is potentially harmful to deep-sea ecosystems.

Story by ORN Fellow @elizabethalberts.bsky.social ‬for @mongabay.com. bit.ly/44TVMl8

U.S. federal agency clears ways for deep-sea mining — and companies are lining up This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network, where Elizabeth Claire Alberts is a fellow. On June 25, the United States Department of the Interior (DOI), a department with...

BOEM has rolled out policy changes to fast-track deep-sea mining in U.S. waters — and companies like Impossible Metals, Wetstone, Odyssey Marine Exploration and Transocean are now actively engaging with the agency.

@mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social
news.mongabay.com/2025/07/u-s-...

PNG PM Marape rejects deep-sea mining even as provincial authorities try to revive project This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network, where Elizabeth Claire Alberts is a fellow. NICE, France — James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, voiced his…

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister is against deep-sea mining, but a provincial governor backs it. Locals near the Solwara 1 site worry about their fisheries and haven’t gotten answers. Read more in a collaboration at @mongabay.com‬ with @elizabethalberts.bsky.social :

PNG PM Marape rejects deep-sea mining even as provincial authorities try to revive project This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network, where Elizabeth Claire Alberts is a fellow. NICE, France — James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, voiced his g...

"We don’t want any deep-sea mining in Papua New Guinea,” PM James Marape told me at UNOC. But in the province of New Ireland, a seabed mining project appears to be going forward. Read my collab with @john-cannon.bsky.social on @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/2025/06/png-...

With Deep-Sea Mining Plans in Limbo, Norwegian Companies Fold or Dig In Norway’s plans to mine seabed minerals in Arctic waters remain in limbo after the first licensing round was delayed in December 2024. However, the government maintains that progress will resume soon.....

Norway’s plans to mine seabed minerals in the Arctic remain in limbo after a licensing round was delayed.

Experts warn that environmental impacts must be addressed before deep-sea mining can proceed.

Story by ORN Fellow @elizabethalberts.bsky.social for @mongabay.bsky.social. bit.ly/42LAbt3

With deep-sea mining plans in limbo, Norwegian companies fold or dig in This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network, where Elizabeth Claire Alberts is a fellow. BERGEN, Norway — It’s been nearly five months since the Norwegian government paus...

Norwegian deep-sea mining company Loke has gone bankrupt. Other companies are feeling the pressure, but the Norwegian government insists that DSM is still moving ahead.

If it does, it won’t be smooth sailing. Environmentalists, fishers, scientists, and politicians are raising serious concerns.

Deep-sea miner TMC seeks U.S. approval, potentially bypassing global regulator Canadian deep-sea mining firm The Metals Company (TMC) has announced it “initiated a process” with U.S. regulators to apply for both exploration and exploitation licenses, potentially circumventing th...

Wild days ahead. Deep-sea miner TMC seeks U.S. approval, potentially bypassing global regulator

Spain sanctions fishing vessels for illegally ‘going dark’ near Argentine waters In December, the Spanish government issued sanctions against 25 Spanish-flagged vessels that fished near the border of Argentina’s territorial waters between 2018 and 2021. The sanctions were for re...

The Spanish government sanctioned 25 of its vessels for illegally turning off their satellite tracking devices while fishing off the coast of Argentina between 2018 and 2021. But this hasn’t stopped the vessels from fishing.

My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2024/01/spai...

Thanks for noting this error! The article has been corrected.

‘Really a sad day’ as Norway votes to allow deep-sea mining in Arctic waters Norway’s parliament has officially voted to allow deep-sea mining to go forward in the Norwegian Sea, despite warnings from scientists and conservationists that it could damage the marine environmen...

Norway’s parliament has officially voted to allow deep-sea mining to go forward in the Norwegian Sea, despite warnings from scientists and conservationists that it could damage the marine environment.

news.mongabay.com/2024/01/real...

Latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

U.S. auctions off endangered whale habitat for oil and gas drilling On Dec. 20, the U.S. government auctioned off oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico despite concerns the move could endanger a newly described and very rare baleen whale known as the Rice�...

The U.S. government auctioned off oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico despite concerns the move could endanger a newly described and very rare baleen whale known as the Rice’s whale.

My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/12/u-s-...

Did the tides turn for oceans at COP28? Climate summit draws mixed reviews The ocean plays an oversized role in regulating Earth’s climate and reducing human-produced greenhouse gas emissions. The watery realms of our planet capture about 25% of global carbon dioxide emiss...

Here's what happened at COP28 for the oceans. My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/12/did-...

Earth on ‘devastating trajectory’ to global tipping points. But there’s hope. A new report suggests that the rapid acceleration of climate change has pushed the Earth systems humanity relies upon to the brink of collapse, placing the world on a “devastating trajectory.” How...

A report released during the COP28 climate summit in Dubai suggests that current levels of warming will very likely push five major Earth systems to reach their “tipping points." But there is hope.

My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/12/eart...

@elizabethalberts.bsky.social looks behind the scenes at why Mexico has done a 180 and flipped its position from fast-tracking deep sea mining to supporting a moratorium on exploiting the seabed for cobalt, nickel and other minerals.

In reversal, Mexico calls for moratorium on international deep-sea mining Mexico, a nation that previously supported the development of deep-sea mining, has now called for a moratorium on this activity in international waters. One environmental expert called Mexico’s anno...

Mexico, a nation that previously supported the development of deep-sea mining, has now called for a moratorium on this activity in international waters.

My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/11/in-r...

Chemical recycling of plastic not so fantastic, report finds In today’s industrialized world, avoiding plastic is virtually impossible. Every trip to the grocery store likely means coming home with food and household items packaged in plastic bottles, tubs an...

A new report by International Pollutants Elimination Network and Beyond Plastics scrutinizes the chemical recycling industry that's on the rise in the U.S. and other parts of the world, including several European countries.

My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/11/chem...

Not surprising!

Deforestation decline in the Amazon and other positive news Listen to this episode from Mongabay Newscast: news from nature on Spotify. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has declined by 22% for the year ending July 31, 2023, according to data from Brazil��...

Exciting news here @mongabay.bsky.social. We've launched a new bureau in Africa, won an award for environmental communication, and also analyzed data showing a 22% deforestation decline in the Brazilian Amazon. Lots to cover on this week's newscast: open.spotify.com/episode/3nNi...

A statement by journalists:
We condemn Israel's killing of journalists in Gaza and urge integrity in Western media coverage of Israel's atrocities against Palestinians.

Over 1,500 journalists have now signed this letter.

www.protect-journalists.com

Jamaica battles relentless plastic pollution in quest to restore mangroves KINGSTON — “All of this was mangroves,” says marine scientist Mona Webber, pointing toward a line of ghostly gray boulders separating the road from the sea. We’re standing on the side of Norma...

Mangrove restoration work in Jamaica is fraught with challenges. But there’s a problem particular to the Kingston area: a deluge of plastic pollution, which can block the vital flow of water the trees need to survive, or damage their roots. @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/11/jama...

Dominica set to open world’s first reserve centered around sperm whales The world’s first marine reserve for sperm whales is set to open in the waters off the coast of Dominica, a tiny island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The reserve’s establishment is aimed at...

Sperm whale facts:

1: They have the largest brains in the animal kingdom.
2. They can dive 2,000 m.
3. Each sperm whale clan has its own dialect.

And now, Dominica will create the world's first sperm whale reserve. Latest for @mongabay.bsky.social

news.mongabay.com/2023/11/domi...