Abstract
This paper investigates key innovative paradigms that seek enhanced consensus building on the sustainable mining agenda of the mineral resource development industry and realities on the ground. It reviews the 55 most relevant academic articles from 2000 to 2019, retrieved from the Web of Science, PubMed and International Conference on Sustainable Development Indicators in the Metals Industry databases. A systematic scoping review method was used to sieve the multitudes of entries obtained from the databases to generate appropriate publications that match the search terms used. Our survey finds a dearth of literature on the subject. Only one article directly confers the need for consensus building on sustainable mining. The existing literature does not suggest the modalities that would enhance indigenous groups’ understanding and appreciation of sustainable mining. This creates a gap between stakeholders with regard to what flags sustainable mining. This study also finds a lack of efforts to incorporate sustainable mining concepts into academic courses focusing on either mining or sustainable development. Thus, this paper suggests that the existing delusions on sustainable mining can be addressed if the science of assessing and communicating the principles of sustainable development in mining is suitably developed and applied in higher educational curricula, environmental literacy feats, community-initiated research and outreach activities. Incorporating indigenous knowledge can address the existing gaps between stakeholder groups and in science.
Highlights
In the feat of rising demand for mineral commodities and a rising conscience of the economic, social and environmental impacts of the mining sector, the concept of “Sustainable Mining” is not adequately understood and applied
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), new scientific analysis on establishing an interface between sustainable mining and literacy in sustainable development towards consensus building remains largely underexplored. To address this gap in science, the main objective of this paper is to identify and harmonize novel ideas upon which foundations towards building a consensus on what sustainable mining pertains can develop
This paper holds that sustainable mining is about enhancing the contributions of the mining sector to the principles of sustainable development while being responsive to the economic and social values of host communities
Summary
In the feat of rising demand for mineral commodities and a rising conscience of the economic, social and environmental impacts of the mining sector, the concept of “Sustainable Mining” is not adequately understood and applied. The global demand for mineral commodities from producing countries is anticipated to rise in the coming years This demand is driven by population surges and related modern living, increasing levels of affluence and the associated technological needs [1,2]. Given the many opportunities that allow discussions of scientific ideas and views on this subject, the existing literature is limited in proffering pragmatic modalities for consensus building on a true understanding of sustainable mining. This makes it complex for local stakeholders to appreciate the value of sustainable mining for a holistic beneficiation of a country’s natural bequest
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
