Mining on the moon is probably coming - are we ready?

So, here's a perfectly serious article about how lucrative mining the moon would be, and how such a development is jot only essential but imminent and inevitable. Lunar water ice, Helium-3, carbon, nitrogen, precious minerals - they are all up for grabs according to some, and Canada needs to stake its claim.

The article - partially written, it must be said, by a representative from the Canadian Space Mining Corp, who might be assumed to have a somewhat partisan opinion - makes such sweeping statements as: "A $100 billion lunar economy beckons"; "So, space mining will be necessary, and we have about a decade to figure out how to do it"; "Canada has a competitive edge, because we know how to mine in isolated locations"; and "The federal government recognizes the opportunity".

It also mentions, almost in passing that, in addition to NASA'S plans to establish a base camp on the moon, "China and Russia announced jointly in 2021 that they are planning the same". Japanese companies are planning on getting in on the act too, as also might India, Israel and South Korea. Don't forget that the USA (under both Obama and Trump) has already unilaterally declared the moon to be fair game for economic development, free of government oversight.

So, are just going to let humanity's rapacious tendencies have free run? We are going to mess up another planet (OK, moon) like we messed this one up? We are going to establish a new front of the burgeoning Cold War up in space?

Hold on! Surely, mining the moon is by no means inevitable, not is it even desirable. There must be a robust movement to prevent such an eventuality, no? Say, some part of the United Nations? Does the moon have no rights?

Well, there is the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon - and yes, it does begin, "We the people of earth..." - established a couple of years ago by a group in of mainly Australian academics, with the intention of starting a conversation about the ethics of exploiting the moon for profit. They hope to get members of the global public to discuss and sign it, but it certainly doesn't have the force of a UN charter, even if sufficient interest could be drummed up.

In theory, there is also the UN's 1967 Outer Space Treaty (technically, the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies"), which states explicitly that the moon "is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty", and that "exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of and shall be the province of all mankind". This suggests that mining on the moon could be legal under certain restrictive conditions, but good luck trying to interpret THAT in court.

There's also (again in theory) the UNs 1979 Moon Agreement (technically, the "Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies"), which specifically declares that lunar resources are the "common heritage of mankind", and calls for the establishment of an international regime of oversight. But it remains one of the UN's least popular multilateral treaties, with only 18 signatories (even the USA refused to sign it).

NASA itself has recently established the Artemis Accords, a "shared vision for principles ... to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities for all of humanity to enjoy". Twenty other nations have already signed on to this accord, but you have to know that the likes of China and Russia are not likely to join in with anything they consider to be "US-centric".

Maybe it's premature to be even discussing these matters. After all, humans haven't actually walked on the moon since 1972. But, make no mistake, it's coming, and probably sooner than we might think, what with the USA's Artemis program, and some pretty firm plans by China, Russia and Japan (plus, you can bet that the Middle Eastern oil States will involve themselves soon enough). We need to have out act together BEFORE these people start tearing up the lunar surface.