Seabed Exploitation: Paris Moratorium Voted, Tavini Dismembered

In line with Emmanuel Macron’s international commitment, MPs adopted a resolution inviting the government to defend an international moratorium on deep-sea mining. The text passed by an absolute majority with the votes of the ADR group, which unites three Polynesian deputies. Their party, Tawini, is strongly opposed to banning such exploitation on the local scene.

215 voted in favor and 56 against. Only the National Rally and a select few Les Republicains, clearly concerned not to deprive France of certain economic opportunities, did not support the resolution proposed by the elected environmentalist Nicolas Thierry. With this text, the national delegation expressed its support for the idea of ​​at least a temporary ban on seabed drilling in the open seas this Tuesday evening. “Until it is proven by independent scientific groups and with certainty that these extraction activities can be carried out without disrupting marine ecosystems and without losing marine biodiversity”. Meanwhile, the deputies of the European Parliament, who welcomed the initiative, ask the central government to ” to prevent the adoption of any regulations on seabed mining” Issuance of operating licenses to AIFM, International Seabed Organization, as well as. The resolution corresponds to the position already expressed by President Emmanuel Macron on the international stage. At the United Nations conference on oceans in Lisbon in June, and then at the COP27 conference in Egypt in November, the head of state advocated for a better study of the deep-sea ecosystem and asked for a “pause” in exploitation projects. , still little known to scientists.

Tematai Le Gayic in defense against exploitation…

Among the signatories of this text is the GDR group, to which three Polynesian MPs belong. Moetai Brotherson has already shown his support for the initiative, even convincing the central government that the moratorium does indeed apply to Polynesia. Speaking in the chair of the Assembly this Tuesday, Tematai Le Gayic questioned the motives that could lead companies or states to start exploiting large funds “at the risk of becoming a destructive element”. “It is the accumulation of wealth, profit and capitalistic views that lead them to deny the importance of respecting the ocean, which is nevertheless an integral part of our human existence,” complains. It is possible to use the resources of our ocean and treat it with respect. But why does it destroy even a small part of it under these conditions?“.

A statement that does not in any way contradict the environmental positions that the young MP has taken so far. On the other hand, it seems difficult to reconcile with his party’s position on the local scene. Because before Metropolis, French Polynesia adopted its “solemn declaration” on December 8, requesting a moratorium on the exploitation of the deep seabed in Polynesia, as elsewhere. A debate introduced by the Edouard Fritch government and its Environment Minister Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, which the independence party did not vote for.

…when Oscar Temaru stirs up billions of deep funds

A few weeks ago, at the Polynesian assembly, sky blue leader Tony Geros made his position on Radio1’s kit clear. On the one hand, there is no question of welcoming France’s international approach, as it still refuses to implement successive UN resolutions that require it to do so. guarantees its sovereignty is allowed of The people of French Polynesia about its natural resources. “We cannot accept Emmanuel Macron talking for us about the resources that belong to us” appointed the former chairman of the assembly. But aside from this ownership conflict, Tavini has been reporting on the economic potential of exploiting MEB’s metal wealth for years – the party’s estimates, based on few facts, have changed in the 2000s. “75 trillion US dollars” and several “billions”. Its president, Oscar Temaru, had even talked about possible talks as recently as last August “Exploration and exploitation rights” internationally. In late December, when he was president, he was accused of signing a deal with China on deep-sea resources, and defended himself: “ It has never been Tavin’s policy to sell his homeland, to sell his life.” But the fact remains that the independence party, anxious not to rule out any economic opportunity for Maohi Nui, refuses to engage in mining. “We are moving forward step by stepTony Geros said on Radio1. First we will recognize our sovereignty and only then will Tavin’s voice be heard. »

How to explain this huge gap in the conversation between Paris and Papeete? In September, MP Moetai Brotherson kicked the tech evolution side in his Tahiti Infos columns. “Within 30 or 50 years, all our child geniuses may have found and developed the technologies that enable these exploits. explained the chosen one. I say maybe because we don’t know. Like the position of his young colleagues in the assembly; Tawini seems equally distant from her elders within.