Entrepreneurial structures of the extractive industry: foreign experience in environmental protection

Abstract

Purpose. To propose measures on assessing the initial state of the environment based on the foreign experience of natural resources protection by business structures in the extractive industry (using the example of some countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Methodology. In the course of the scientific research, the authors used a number of general scientific and special methods of cognition, such as analysis for critical assessment of approaches to the interpretation of the essence and necessity of nature protection; quantitative and qualitative comparisons to highlight the mutual impact of environmental protection measures used by companies of OECD member countries; scientific abstraction and systematization for setting out proposals regarding the application of the most successful measures for Ukraine, applied by OECD member countries. Findings. The authors considered the experience of foreign member countries of the OECD such as Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada, the USA in terms of the implementation of some international regulations on labor protection, local maintenance standards, the governments focus on cooperation with license holders for subsoil use operations. Originality. The authors suggested that the government of Ukraine pay attention to the measures introduced by Australia in terms of assessment of the initial state of the environment. Subsoil user companies should collect environmental information at the project planning stage in order to determine the factors that are subject to monitoring, further study, and control at the stage of liquidation of consequences after the termination of operations. Environmental information should include information on climatic conditions, geological data, soil data, hydrological data, data on vegetation, terrestrial and subterranean fauna, as well as information on socioeconomic conditions and cultural heritage sites. Practical value. The considered experience is also useful for Ukraine, since we have a significant part of enterprises in the extractive industry and the issues of environmental protection and nature management should occupy one of the first places in companies. The results of the research can be used by practitioners, scientists, and civil servants for further perspectives of the development.