“But As You Sow, a non-profit group focused on shareholder advocacy on ESG matters, said the order “accelerates an environmentally catastrophic practice” that 32 countries and business groups have rejected until deepsea mining’s ecosystem impact is clear." Read More →

“‘First Solar can confidently make a commitment to keep seabed minerals out of its supply chains because the Company understands the power of circularity,’ said Elizabeth Levy, biodiversity program coordinator at As You Sow." Read More →

“According to Cole Genge, director of programs of As You Sow, the emerging deep sea mining (DSM) industry embodies one of the most significant new threats to global biodiversity.

‘As the green transition, including electric vehicle deployment, speeds up, companies like The Metals Company plan to strip-mine the seafloor for nodules containing battery-related minerals,’ said Genge. ‘Supporters of DSM argue that mining deep sea nodules poses fewer risks to climate and biodiversity compared to terrestrial mining.’” Read More →

“First Solar’s commitment leads the way to ensuring that we don’t unwittingly create yet another globally destructive practice,” said Elizabeth Levy, biodiversity program coordinator at As You Sow. “Companies that promote deep sea mining insist that we need deep seabed minerals now to fuel the energy transition; First Solar’s insistence on a precautionary process challenges this false narrative and shows others in the renewable energy industry that we don’t need to exploit the deep sea, potentially irrevocably, for the energy transition to continue.”  Read More →

The First Solar deal shows many corporate executives at least remain concerned about environmental matters, said Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, a prolific filer of shareholder resolutions. "I know everyone is despairing about ESG, but the bottom line to me is that companies want to get better and thrive," Behar said in a telephone interview.  Read More →

As You Sow — a nonprofit promoting corporate social responsibility — filed a proposal in December asking shareholders to impose a moratorium on sourcing minerals from deep seabeds. “We are seeing Tesla, the face of the EV transition, as a laggard,” said Elizabeth Levy, the nonprofit’s biodiversity program coordinator. Read More →

“Biodiversity proposals and commitments have become an overarching trend in 2024,” Elizabeth Levy, biodiversity programme coordinator at California-based non-profit As You Sow, told Carbon Pulse. “Investors are continuing to look at the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss – including certain land use practices in the agricultural industry – and engaging with companies on those topics.” Read More →