Dilemmas in the Energy Transition
At the UTC Marine Minerals seminar 14 June, we will address some of the key drivers, challenges and dilemmas in the energy transition.
The energy transition required a huge increase in primary mineral supply.
– Marine minerals is seen by many as an enabler to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen the security and diversification of the supply, however, scientists are very clear about their concerns and the many unknown consequences for the marine ecosystem, says Erik Giercksky, Head Ocean Stewardship Coalition, United Nations Global Compact. He is one of the keynote speakers at the UTC Marine Minerals seminar 14 June.
The ocean has a key role
– The ocean plays a key role in our work to reach the UN sustainability goals and climate ambitions, Giercksky says.
Modern life depends on different resources from the ocean, energy, food, transport systems to mention some. Seabed mining, being a new industry, will come with an impact in this pristine environment and probably some with unknown consequences for the marine environment. This is a dilemma which politicians, researcher and the industry are facing, as the minerals are in demand to scale up renewable energy production to address climate.
UN Global Global Compact works across different sectors with stakeholders from the entire society to better understand and establish framework for sustainable industries.
– As head of our Oceans team, we see a growing interest in utilisation of marine minerals resources, but also increasing calls for better conservation. With new legislation under development, it is vital with input from a broad group of actors, Giercksky explains.
– I really look forward to UTC Marine Minerals and share my perspectives on how we can work together and drive change and sustainability, Giercksky finish.
Learn from the pacific. Thomas Dahlgren, Research Professor at NORCE and researcher at the University in Gothenburg, will be another speaker addressing the environmental aspects related to marine minerals. Dahlgren has numerous publications on deep sea biology and ecosystems and has been part of several environmental baseline studies in the Pacific, the latest in the end of 2021.
We very much look forward hearing Thomas talk about the experience and knowledge status from environmental baseline studies in the Pacific and what we can learn from these.
