Mining, the sustainable development goals and impact assessments: a review of governance and local impacts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Impact assessments have the potential to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper argues that the nexus between the SDGs, mining, and impact assessments has received little attention. In particular, research on the governance and local impacts of the mining industry is scant. Using a narrative review approach, this paper explores the processes and practices that might be used to examine the role of impact assessments in addressing the SDGs under three interconnected themes: 1) Impacts on the environment; 2) Governance; and 3) Livelihoods. The review brings together dispersed literature, across various disciplines, and relates to diverse locations in order to provide a comprehensive overview of key debates in relation to the SDGs and impact assessments in mining. Overall, there are eight goals (SDG 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 17) that are not addressed in the literature reviewed for this paper. Ultimately, this narrative review reveals key themes for future research, including how women’s intersectional identities contribute to their place or position in processes that inform impact assessments and the SDGs, and the need to interrogate what agency, power, scale, and other discursive practices around whose knowledge counts means for both impact assessments and the successful implementation of the SDGs.