Metals such as copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) play a crucial role in renewable energy technologies and the transition to a low-carbon economy. These metals are essential components in advanced batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, and other clean energy innovations that are key to reducing global reliance on fossil fuels. The accelerating transition toward green energy has yielded divergent projections for global critical metals demand, varying substantially based on assumptions of different transition pathways, including one scenario suggesting a doubling by 2060, (1) far surpassing current production levels from traditional terrestrial mining. However, land-based reserves are increasingly constrained by environmental concerns, geopolitical factors, and declining ore grades, driving interest in alternative sources. An alternative to terrestrial sources proposed by some is deep-sea mining, particularly in the Clarion–Clipperton zone, which holds over 21 billion metric tons of metal-rich deposits known as polymetallic nodules. (2) As deep-sea mining technologies advance, the Clarion–Clipperton zone and other abyssal plains are being explored as potential sources to meet the growing demand for these strategic metals and support the global transition to sustainable energy. (3) The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is responsible for regulating deep-sea mining in international waters under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is currently still in the process of developing regulations. Some nongovernmental organizations and ISA member states are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, often citing the limited amount of data available to assess impact as part of their rationale.