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7.4 Natural resources
Natural resources of every kind are the foundation of our
civilization. Non-living resources are particular priority in
the context of societal development. In a world where non-
living natural resources such as fossil fuels and minerals
are increasingly scarce and predominantly located in devel-
oping countries, it is vital for decision-makers from the local
to global level are provide with sound information covering
critical environmental, social and economic aspects. GRID-
Arendal continues with its tradition of identifying emerging
issues, gathering the expertise and partnerships needed to
explore these issues and producing credible information for
policy consideration. During the course of the current re-
porting period, the Marine team focused on two emerging
issues relevant to developing countries:
Global Outlook on Methane Gas Hydrates
The
Global Outlook on Methane Gas Hydrates
report has
been completed and will be launched in 2014. The 3-year
effort to produce the report has established a dynamic in-
ternational community of practice that includes national
government scientists, academics, NGOs and the private
sector. Through GRID-Arendal’s coordination, this com-
munity of practice has expanded its approach to gas hy-
drates research (on viability of exploitation) to be more
inclusive of social realities (e.g. wealth distribution) and
ecological limits. The concept of a transitional global en-
ergy mix designed to lead society to a low to no carbon
system is now part of the discussion and the policy advice
being provided to decision makers.
Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Assessment
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community-European Union
Deep Sea Minerals in the Pacific Islands Region: A Legal
and Fiscal Framework for Sustainable Resource Manage-
ment Project (the DSM Project) is being implemented in
15 Pacific countries.
54
The Pacific Deep Sea Minerals As-
sessment, which is part of this project, has been com-
pleted by GRID-Arendal and was launched by SPC/SOPAC
in December 2013.
55
The two-volume report provides the
first integrated examination of the key aspects of miner-
al extraction for policy-makers, including the geological,
biological, technical, social, economic, and fiscal compo-
nents.
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Pacific Deep Sea Minerals
Assessment
These volumes have, for the first time, brought
together international experts with a broad range of
skills and backgrounds relating to deep sea minerals.
Consolidating this information to support decision
making, and the regional development of a legislative
framework to underpin resource development, both
within and beyond national jurisdictions, places the
Pacific Island states at the forefront of responsible
management of their non-renewable resources.
54. Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati,
Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
55.
http://www.grida.no/publications/deep-sea-minerals/SEA-FLOORMASSIVESULPHIDES
1
Sea-Floor Massive Sulphides
Aphysical,biological,environmental,and technical review
1A
DEEPSEAMINERALS
Editedby
ElaineBakerandYannickBeaudoin
MANGANESENODULES
1
Manganese Nodules
Aphysical,biological,environmental,and technical review
1B
DEEPSEAMINERALS
Editedby
ElaineBakerandYannickBeaudoin
COBALT-RICH FERROMANGANESECRUSTS
1
Cobalt-richFerromanganeseCrusts
Aphysical,biological,environmental,and technical review
1C
DEEPSEAMINERALS
Editedby
ElaineBakerandYannickBeaudoin
DeepSeaMineralSanDtheGreeneconoMy
1
Deep Sea Minerals and the
Green Economy
2
DEEPSEAMINERALS
Editedby
ElaineBakerandYannickBeaudoin
Deap sea minerals