China's imports of major commodities appeared to show signs of strength in August, but the gains in volumes are more nuanced and illustrate the difference between a short-term view and longer-term fundamentals.
Environment officials and campaigners have called for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining and on issuing new exploration contracts unless marine ecosystems can be effectively protected.
Coal mining is more commonly criticised by environmentalists for polluting air and water, degrading landscapes and fuelling climate change than for creating new wildlife habitats.