Plans to mine the seabed of the Cook Islands for valuable polymetallic nodules are causing a rift between economic promises and environmental concerns. Prime Minister Mark Brown advocates for the project, hoping to tap into resources that could transform the Pacific nation’s economy. However, activists and environmentalists warn of the risks involved, pushing for more research before such endeavors go forward. The situation highlights the tension between the need for sustainable development and the call to protect one of the last untouched ecosystems on the planet.