Infographic: Deep-Sea Mining at a Crossroad

Global decarbonization and the influx of electric vehicles and their batteries are putting stress on the supply of rare and other metals. The ocean floor is littered with polymetallic nodules, or metal-laden rocks, that contain enough nickel, copper, cobalt, and other metals to supply the growing industry and reduce the need for traditional mines. But the international agency charged with regulating deep-sea mining has yet to draw up rules, and 22 countries are calling for a moratorium on the practice.