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Capital, the ‘Blue Economy’ and the last frontier on Earth: how nature matters in the emerging deep-sea mineral frontier, the case of polymetallic nodules in the Area

Orts, Pierre LU (2021) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20211
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Deep-sea mining (DSM) is an emerging extractive industry often portrayed as part of a sustainable oceanic ‘blue economy’ despite being characterized by profound ecological uncertainty. This thesis critically examines the emergence focusing on the extraction of polymetallic nodules, by developing two arguments. First, it argues that DSM represents the ‘subsumption of nature’ by examining its biophysical processes and the material characteristics behind polymetallic nodule extraction. Second, it argues that DSM represents a ‘commodity frontier’ by identifying the strategies at play behind the commodification of polymetallic nodules. A literature review and a deductive-inductive thematic analysis of publications from key players in the... (More)
Deep-sea mining (DSM) is an emerging extractive industry often portrayed as part of a sustainable oceanic ‘blue economy’ despite being characterized by profound ecological uncertainty. This thesis critically examines the emergence focusing on the extraction of polymetallic nodules, by developing two arguments. First, it argues that DSM represents the ‘subsumption of nature’ by examining its biophysical processes and the material characteristics behind polymetallic nodule extraction. Second, it argues that DSM represents a ‘commodity frontier’ by identifying the strategies at play behind the commodification of polymetallic nodules. A literature review and a deductive-inductive thematic analysis of publications from key players in the development of DSM reveals that capital is driven by a dialectic between accumulation through appropriation and accumulation through capitalization, thereby providing for a structural understanding of DSM and its implications for the sustainable governance of ocean resources under a ‘blue economy’. It concludes that, at present, it remains uncertain whether DSM could lead to an equilibrium between ecological sustainability and human well-being. (Less)
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author
Orts, Pierre LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
deep-sea mining, polymetallic nodules, subsumption of nature, commodity frontier, blue economy, sustainability sciences
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2021:022
language
English
id
9047983
date added to LUP
2021-06-02 16:20:14
date last changed
2021-06-02 16:20:14
@misc{9047983,
  abstract     = {{Deep-sea mining (DSM) is an emerging extractive industry often portrayed as part of a sustainable oceanic ‘blue economy’ despite being characterized by profound ecological uncertainty. This thesis critically examines the emergence focusing on the extraction of polymetallic nodules, by developing two arguments. First, it argues that DSM represents the ‘subsumption of nature’ by examining its biophysical processes and the material characteristics behind polymetallic nodule extraction. Second, it argues that DSM represents a ‘commodity frontier’ by identifying the strategies at play behind the commodification of polymetallic nodules. A literature review and a deductive-inductive thematic analysis of publications from key players in the development of DSM reveals that capital is driven by a dialectic between accumulation through appropriation and accumulation through capitalization, thereby providing for a structural understanding of DSM and its implications for the sustainable governance of ocean resources under a ‘blue economy’. It concludes that, at present, it remains uncertain whether DSM could lead to an equilibrium between ecological sustainability and human well-being.}},
  author       = {{Orts, Pierre}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Capital, the ‘Blue Economy’ and the last frontier on Earth: how nature matters in the emerging deep-sea mineral frontier, the case of polymetallic nodules in the Area}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}