Table_1_Options to Improve Transparency of Environmental Monitoring Governance for Polymetallic Nodule Mining in the Area.pdf

This paper proposes institutional innovations to advance a transparent monitoring system for the environmental impacts from mineral development on the deep seabed beyond national jurisdictions managed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Using a literature review, ISA’s regulations, and five cases of other environmental monitoring of the deep sea, this study observes that ISA’s environmental monitoring system for exploration and exploitation currently lacks critical elements to facilitate transparency. Insufficient compliance reporting and review systems, as well as limited access to information by stakeholders, lower the system’s effectiveness. ISA has not developed adequate mechanisms to support effective multinational collaboration in monitoring. The ISA monitoring system without these characteristics may not be sufficiently adaptive to allow detection and management of environmental changes in the deep seabed. This study suggests 15 institutional recommendations to ISA in order to enhance transparency for monitoring nodule mining in the Central Pacific deep seabed. Principal recommendations include establishing compliance review committees independent of ISA governing bodies, implementing collective monitoring and reporting by adjacent contractors, and reconsidering the centralized decision-making authority by the Secretary-General to improve confidentiality.本文提出制度创新方案，以完善由国际海底管理局（International Seabed Authority, ISA）管辖的国家管辖范围以外深海海底矿产开发活动的环境影响透明监测体系。本研究通过文献综述、ISA现有规章以及5个深海其他环境监测案例开展分析，发现当前ISA用于勘探与开采活动的环境监测体系存在制约透明度提升的关键缺失环节：合规报告与审查机制不完善，加之利益相关方获取信息的渠道受限，均削弱了该体系的运行效能；同时ISA尚未建立足以支撑监测工作中有效跨国协作的配套机制。若缺乏上述关键要素，ISA的环境监测体系将难以具备足够的适应性，无法实现深海海底环境变化的监测与治理。本研究针对ISA提出15项制度优化建议，以提升中太平洋深海海底多金属结核采矿监测工作的透明度。核心建议包括设立独立于ISA治理机构的合规审查委员会、推行相邻承包方的联合监测与报告机制，以及重新考量秘书长的集中决策权限以优化信息保密管理。