Climate change risks and vulnerabilities during mining exploration, operations, and reclamation: A regional approach for the mining sector in Québec, Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACT Climate change (CC) has already and will continue to have a significant impact on the mining sector. A comprehensive and thorough analysis was performed to evaluate the risks and vulnerabilities resulting from CC during the exploration, operation, and reclamation phases of the mining life cycle. This analysis focused on six mining regions in Québec. Climate scenarios were produced for each region and, along with a literature review, used to assess the effects of CC on the mining sector. The results were presented to a panel of experts who highlighted the risks for each activity at each phase of the mining life cycle. A second group of experts evaluated the level of risk and the mining industry’s vulnerability for each risk identified by the first group. Six main risks due to CC were identified: activity schedule disruptions, loss or limitation of site accessibility, water management issues, instabilities and failures of storage facilities, operations infrastructure instabilities, and reduction of reclamation cover performance. The mining experts performed a Delphi-type survey for each mining activity to determine the risk level for each region, leading to the production of a risk matrix. Results indicate that CC is expected to particularly affect reclamation cover performance, and extreme climate events are projected to have significant impacts on operations. Vulnerability levels were assigned by a third group of experts based on the industry’s ability to adapt to these risks. Results showed a low vulnerability for exploration, low to high vulnerability for operations, and low to very high vulnerability for reclamation.