How to Lose Half a Trillion

Mining the deep sea would be an ecological disaster that could cause over USD 500 billion in value destruction. The negative impact on the deep sea’s ecosystem services could lead to natural capital destruction of at least USD 465 billion, predominantly through habitat destruction.

Financial market participants have the power to prevent this potential loss of at least half a trillion dollars by endorsing a moratorium on deep sea mining. The findings of this report underscore the need for a paradigm shift in the way financial markets perceive nature.