Coordinated management of energy and mineral resources development and control of pollution in Western China

Abstract

Natural environment is fragile and harsh in Western China where rich energy and mineral resources are endowed, enabling energy and mining development to become a pillar industry of the regions socioeconomic development. This paper identified the key issues and challenges faced by eco-environment as a result of energy and mining development in Western China. We argued that mining and energy development have caused various environmental problems, and that environmental degradation is increasingly prominent in Western China, hence, we request coordinated resource development and environmental protection for sustainable development in this region. Based on the above recognitions, this paper put forward relevant policy recommendations: promoting green development vigorously and developing new green energy; formulating and enforcing environmental protection laws and regulations, improving ecological compensation mechanism; establishing green threshold; strengthening integration between western resource-based ci...