"The international agency charged with regulating seabed mining elected a U.N. environmental regulator to replace a leader accused of too-close industry ties."

"The international agency charged with regulating seabed mining worldwide voted on Friday to replace its top executive, after accusations that the British lawyer running the agency was too closely aligned with the mining industry.

Leticia Carvalho, an oceanographer from Brazil and a United Nations environmental regulator, was elected by a 79-to-34 vote by the nations that run the International Seabed Authority to replace Michael Lodge, a lawyer who has overseen the agency for nearly eight years.

“I can’t wait to start to work with state parties and stakeholders at this honorable organization,” Ms. Carvalho said after the vote, which was done by secret ballot.

Mr. Lodge has been a polarizing figure at the seabed authority, which has jurisdiction over any future mining in international waters. Environmentalists have argued that he worked behind the scenes with private contractors to try to accelerate the start of mining."

Eric Lipton reports for the New York Times August 2, 2024. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Sea-Bed Regulator Elects Secretary General As Calls Grow To Pause Deep-Sea Mining" (Reuters) [3]