Daniel Kammen: The Perils of Deep-Sea Mining

Most of us have never been there but according to a quick Google search, some of the things you might see at the bottom of the ocean include sea spiders, tube worms, and something called a blob sculpin. Add to that list: heavy equipment for mining rare earth minerals like cobalt and manganese.

This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak with Daniel Kammen, an energy professor at the University of California at Berkeley, about deep-sea mining. We learn about this segment of the extraction industry, consider the environmental hazards, and examine why it’s largely unnecessary. We also take a look at the promise of growing rare minerals like perovskites in laboratories, and discuss the recent Sunnylands Climate Agreement between the U.S. and China. Daniel Kammen

Track: Time
Artist: Pink Floyd
Album: Dark Side of the Moon
Label: Capitol Records
Year: 1973

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Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
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Year: 1961

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Artist: Talking Heads
Album: Remain In Light
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Year: 1980