In this week's Current Climate newsletter, Trump has ignited a new fight over seabed mining; America’s only rare-earth mine could be a big winner; Toyota’s approach to CO2 reduction

The U.N.-affiliated body that governs the seabed in international waters came out swinging — by diplo-speak standards — against White House efforts to spur deep-sea mineral mining. Why it matters: The International Seabed Authority's statement circulated Saturday is a fresh sign of geopolitical and legal conflict that could greet new commercial efforts outside its purview.

President Trump signed an executive order to boost the U.S. deep-sea mining industry for critical minerals. Supporters say deep-sea mining could boost the U.S. economy and reduce reliance on land-based mines, while environmental groups warn of biodiversity loss. The move comes amid U.S. efforts to decrease reliance on China for critical minerals.