Natural Resource Extraction Research Articles

Green technology innovations, natural gas and resource extraction strategies in BRICS: Modeling impacts on CO2 emission intensity

The article extends beyond conventional models and indicators by initially attempting to capture the complex effects of green technological innovations and changes in natural resource extraction and natural gas production on a novel environmental quality indicator (CO, intensity, CO2ei) for the BRICS countries from 1990 to 2020. The empirical analysis for the candidate panel was conducted using robust analytical techniques, including the fully modified OLS (FMOLS), dynamic OLS (DOLS), canonical correlation regression (CCR), and seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). The results corroborated the role of green technological innovations as an effective deterrent against increasing levels of CO2ei. Still, the outcomes suggested that changes in natural gas production and natural resource extraction had escalated CO2ei in the candidate panel. The country-wise analysis reflected significant variance among the candidate panel countries. For instance. the model revealed that natural gas production abated CO2ei in China and India only, while its environmental effects remained adverse in the remaining countries. Per estimations, the unrequited extraction of natural resources facilitated the reduction of CO2ei in Brazil and Russia, but it also raised CO2ei in the rest of the BRICS countries. In addition, the causality estimation highlighted the following causal flows: i) the feedback effect from natural gas production to CO2ei; ii) one-way causality from CO2ei to green technological innovations and from natural resources extraction to CO2ei. The study offers novel and actionable policy recommendations for policymakers and theorists to steer sustainable and environmentally conscious initiatives in the BRICS countries.

Combining Building Information Model and Life Cycle Assessment for Defining Circular Economy Strategies

Although the construction industry has the potential to implement circular economy (CE) principles, the sector suffers from a veritable lack of initiatives to develop circular and regenerative design principles. However, existing buildings intended to be demolished could be considered as material banks for future constructions, with the aim to exploit anthropogenic resources, extend material/product efficiency, and reduce the extraction of natural resources. This concept of buildings as material banks is being studied more and more in the scientific literature, but it still requires the existing building stock to be fully digitalized, thus making materials reusable in new buildings starting from the architectural design stage. Moreover, the decision process regarding CE strategies requires the consideration of the environmental impacts of the deconstruction and end-of-life processes, which is essential in CE implementation. This paper introduces a digital platform for generating materials inventory and supporting the definition of reuse strategies. Then, by using digital tools in combination with life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of the deconstruction process and output of materials and components inventories, a method is defined and tested on a pilot building in Luxembourg.

A review of natural resource extraction industries and their influence on the occurrence of poverty

PurposeThis research paper takes a narrow approach to examining the apparent link between poverty and the resource extraction industries. However, it acknowledges that much more is to be explored about this relationship. Many complexities influence the occurrence and degree of poverty in a particular country, region, or community.Design/methodology/approachThe literature review identified proposed and operational poverty reduction actions and processes categorized under the broad concept of community development projects. The surveyed cases describe how various corporate strategies, work processes, labor requirements and efficient management and governance solutions are purported to improve poverty-reduction efforts potentially.FindingsNo causal linkages between poverty and hypothetically valuable and successful community development projects were found. No poverty monitoring evaluations and learning data (MEL) for these projects were proposed and published in most of the literature. However, associations were observed between some business practices implemented in these resource extraction community development projects and observations of indicators of lower poverty levels.Practical implicationsThe research improves our understanding of the requirements and opportunities for successful community development projects by highlighting processes, company strategy, human resource programs and enlightened governance that can contribute to reducing poverty.Originality/valueThe paper identifies the characteristics of community development projects that appear to span natural resource extraction industries and countries. Effective management strategies and representative and formally designated organisational governance boards are essential for these projects.

Environmental disclosure analysis of manufacturing companies to realize sustainable green economy

Purpose: Environmental sustainability is a critical issue for many countries, including Indonesia, whose economy is heavily reliant on natural resource extraction. Profitability, liquidity, capital structure, and environmental performance are investigated as potential factors of environmental disclosure in the Indonesian context.Design/methodology/approach: Data from a final sample of 235 observations of manufacturing industries were collected and analyzed using a partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).Findings: The findings reveal that profitability, liquidity, capital structure, and environmental performance all have a role in motivating corporations to disclose their environmental responsibilities. This is because environmental disclosure can be utilized to attract new potential investors. As a result, the higher the score for environmental performance, the greater the voluntary effect of environmental disclosure.Research limitations/implications: This research is not devoid of limitations. First, this study is limited to manufacturing firms in Indonesia. Second, this research only uses a single proxy of measurement. Thus, further research might utilize more sample firms from multiple countries or provide a comparative study between firms that adopt sustainability reporting. Hence, the implication might apply to sustainability reporting-adopted countries, and it might apply not only to emerging countries but also to developed countries. Further research is expected to use more measurements of environmental performance and environmental disclosure so that the result is more robust and has more impact. Moreover, utilizing alternative statistical methods can help validate the results of this study and reinforce the relevant theories.Practical implications: This research recommends that businesses should view environmental sustainability as a chance to make a positive impact on a more sustainable world for the "well-being of humans as well as the planet" while also improving their financial performance. Businesses that adopt socially and sustainably responsible business practices are likely to see improvements in their financial performance as well as increased credibility and confidence from important stakeholders.Social Implications: Eco-friendly products desired by consumers can be achieved through the combined influence of financial and environmental performance.Originality/value: The incorporation of an unbiased evaluation carried out by an external organization, together with the transparent distribution of outcomes utilizing a five-color rating scheme (PROPER), provides significant contributions to the current corpus of knowledge.

ВЛИЯНИЕ НЕОЛИБЕРАЛЬНОЙ ИДЕОЛОГИИ НА СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ СЫРЬЕВЫХ РЕГИОНОВ РОССИИ

Neoliberalism, as an ideology, influences various industries and regions in Russia to varying degrees. In industry regions, this influence can be especially pronounced, given the specifics of economic activity and socio-economic conditions. That is why it is important to take into account and measure the positive and negative impact of neoliberal policies in relation to regions with single-industry specialization. This article examines the impact of neoliberal ideology on the socio-economic development of the raw material regions of the Russian Federation. The analysis of the basic principles of neoliberalism and their impact on economic policy, especially in the context of regions dependent on the extraction and export of natural resources, is carried out. To achieve the purpose of the study, qualitative and quantitative methods were used, including the analysis of official statistical data, a literary review and expert assessments. The article examines the changes in the economic structure, standard of living and social sphere of these regions under the influence of neoliberal reforms. Special attention is paid to the growth of social inequalities, the deterioration of working and living conditions of the population. The results of the conducted research can be used for the development and successful implementation of subsequent programs for the development of raw materials regions. The article offers recommendations on adjusting economic policy in order to mitigate the negative effects of neoliberal principles on raw material regions and increase sustainable socio-economic development.

Natural resource extraction and sustainable development: A case involving Pacific Island countries

Natural resource extraction and sustainable development: A case involving Pacific Island countries

The response of energy aid and natural resources consumption in load capacity factor of the Asia Pacific emerging countries

Researchers have frequently raised questions about the capacity of CO2 emissions to depict the state of environmental quality comprehensively. The study responds to this gap by recommending a novel instrument, Load Capacity Factor (LCF), to precisely evaluate the ecological implications of energy aid (EA) and natural resources extraction for environmental quality in 34 Asia Pacific countries (APAC) between 2002 and 2021. Applying the instrumental variable GMM, the present estimations respond that environmental quality (LCF) suffered significantly due to energy aid (0.0259%) and natural resources (0.0557%) in the candidate countries. These outcomes are further corroborated by the heterogeneity analysis based on income and region. The addition of moderators, including the rule of law and political stability, steered the relationship between EA and LCF in a positive direction. The findings imply that policy alignment is crucial to operationalising energy aid and natural resources to achieve sustainable economic development in the sampled group.

Does natural resources rent promote carbon neutrality: The role of digital finance

China is regarded as the leading carbon emitter country in the world. Therefore, China has been striving to achieve carbon neutrality. To move towards carbon neutrality targets, there is a need to understand/explore the drivers of carbon emissions. Hence, this empirical investigation discerns the impact of natural resources rent, digital finance, and the combined effect of natural resources rent and digital finance on carbon emissions for China for the period of 1990–2022. This study utilizes a novel augmented ARDL approach. Our empirical results reveal that natural resources escalate carbon emissions during the short-run and long-run. On the contrary, digital finance curbs emissions across time horizons. Further, the combined impact of natural resources and digital finance is negative, indicating that natural resources amid digital finance impede carbon emissions in China. We propose policymakers should introduce policies to discourage natural resource extraction. For this purpose, taxes on natural resource extraction industries may be applied.

Investigate the mechanical behavior of alkali-activated slag mortar using sustainable waste sodium silicate-bonded sand as an alkali activator and carbon free aggregate

Various products generate different types of industrial by-products based on their production characteristics and procedures. Therefore, an accurate classification of these characteristics would contribute significantly to achieving the goals of resource recycling and environmental protection. This study focused on Waste Alkali-Activated Slag Mortar (W-AASM). In the past, inorganic aggregation technology was successfully adopted to replace conventional concrete binding materials and reduce cement usage. Besides utilizing inorganic aggregation technology, the study has introduced a novel industrial by-product known as Waste Sodium Silicate-Bonded Sand (WSSS). WSSS not only serves as a substitute for sodium silicate in alkali-activated agents but also acts as a complete replacement for fine aggregates in mortar. The experimental findings showed that, in addition to fulfilling the original strength requirements of concrete, it results in a significant reduction in cement consumption, minimizing the extraction of natural resources, and decreasing the overall cost of Alkali-activated concrete production. The study highlighted the advantage of WSSS and showed a new dimension of waste foundry sand application in the concrete industry. This method leads to the recycling of waste materials and their optimal use, and as a result, leads to a sustainable ecosystem. The results of this study can be applied to secondary structures in civil engineering and construction projects in the future, such as precast concrete products, concrete pavements, or roads.

Sustainable performance and disaster management in the oil and gas industry: An intellectual capital perspective

In the post-COVID era and amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the natural resource extraction sector, particularly oil and gas, faces unprecedented challenges in maintaining its sustainability. Disasters in this sector, ranging from environmental catastrophes to operational disruptions, further exacerbate these challenges, eroding environmental integrity and aggravating social issues. These events underscore the urgency of strengthening disaster management capabilities in the oil and gas sector to safeguard against future uncertainties and sustain its operational viability. Against this context, this study aims to examine two critical facets of disaster management in the oil and gas sector. The first objective is to assess the role of intangible resources, particularly intellectual capital, in improving an organization's disaster management capabilities. Intellectual capital, encompassing human, relational, and structural capital, is posited as a key driver in managing complex and unpredictable challenges. The second objective is to investigate the role of supply chain risk management in mediating the impact of intellectual capital on disaster management. Data for this study were collected from firms in the oil and gas sector of Pakistan through a structured questionnaire Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis. The results reveal a significant impact of intellectual capital on improving both the responsiveness and alertness aspects of disaster management. Further, supply chain risk management emerges as a crucial factor in channeling the influence of intellectual capital on disaster management effectiveness. Findings of the study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of disaster management in the natural resource sector but also offers practical insights for industry practitioners. The novelty of this study lies in its empirical examination of the interplay between intellectual capital, supply chain risk management, and disaster management capabilities, win the context of the oil and gas sector.

Afro-Ecuadorian Women, Territory and Natural Resource Extraction in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Afro-descendant women in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, are amongst the most marginalized groups in the country. Living in a region severely affected by environmental degradation due to multiple and overlapping forms of resource extraction, they also face the impacts of drug-trafficking conflicts crossing the Colombian border, as well as institutional and everyday racism. Many of these conditions are rooted in a long history of colonialism. In this article, we highlight the relative absence of Afro-Ecuadorian women’s voices, histories and experiences from research on resource extraction and argue that Black feminist theoretical approaches provide an essential tool for understanding intersections of gender, race and activism, as well as (alternatives to) development, and the impacts of natural resource extraction in Ecuador. In so doing, the article proposes a theoretical framework to open up spaces that situate Afro-Ecuadorian women’s knowledge at the centre of efforts to resist marginalization and extractivism.

Natural resource extraction and environmental sustainability in Africa: The role of voice and accountability

AbstractWe examine the effect of natural resource extraction on environmental sustainability in Africa. Using comprehensive panel data from 30 countries for the 2004–2021 period, we find that natural resource extraction reduces environmental sustainability, particularly in resource‐poor countries. However, the nature of this nexus is time‐varying, with natural resource extraction exerting a positive and negative impact on environmental sustainability in the short and long run, respectively. We also note that strong economic institutions like voice and accountability can enhance environmental sustainability. In short, our results shed light on the complex dynamics of the extraction–sustainability nexus in an extremely young and rapidly developing part of the world. Moreover, our results demonstrate that robust economic institutions can be an effective environmental protection mechanism independent of initial natural resource endowment.

An EV-fix for Indonesia: the green development-resource nationalist nexus

ABSTRACT The global energy transition is disrupting old industries needing to decarbonise. Meanwhile, resource-rich countries stand to benefit from the rush for ‘energy-transition minerals’. Here, institutional investors and governments promote climate policies compatible with natural resource extraction. This begs the question: How have extractive conglomerates reorganised their interests to benefit from the energy transition? Focusing on the nickel extraction to lithium battery to EV industry in Indonesia, this article contends that the intersection of decarbonisation, developmentalism, and resource nationalism offer extractive capital an ‘EV-fix’ for declining legitimacy. This is more than an ideological shift, as new alliances of state capital, domestic conglomerates, politicians and international battery and EV manufacturers are forged under a ‘green development-resource nationalist nexus’.

Introduction to Indigenous Performance Ecologies and Ecological Power in the Global South

Human and non-human inhabitants in the global south are all gradually becoming refugees in their own local communities and the planet Earth. This is more visible in places in the extractive zone as Macarena Gomes-Barris refers to these locations, in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where multinational corporations and local extraction industries continue to cause harm to indigenous people, non-human lives, cultures and places. All these activities of extraction have accelerated the climate crisis and economic poverty. This has created unimaginable ways of living, such as the consumption of polluted water, breathing contaminated air, being bathed by black soot and so on. All these ways of living are prominent in the global south and especially countries of, in the words of Paul Collier (2007), the Bottom Billion. The Bottom Billion is the number of people living in countries “caught in one, or often several of four traps, amongst mismanaged dependency on natural resources” (p. 7). The extraction of natural resources which amounts to the exploitation of the environment and ecology of local people will continue to escalate with time. This has its evidence with the massive floods in Nigeria and Bangladesh, desertification in North Africa and India, and the Hurricane tragedies in Eastern Mexico. As Sally Mackey states in one of the Ted talks at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, titled: Keeping a Sense of Place in a Disrupted World, “the excess of energy use in the North is damaging countries in the South. Lands are diminishing, places are disappearing, 86 percent of global energy is gotten from fossil fuels. With this, lands will continue to diminish, places will disappear, and populations will move” (Mackey 2017).

Sustainable Agriculture Development and Optimum Utilization of Natural Resources: Striking a Balance

There is a finite supply of natural resources, and unchecked exploitation may harm the ecosystem. The strategy for their sustainable use must be determined. The framework of sustainable development is used to define strategies of ongoing societal and state advancement that do not negatively impact the environment or the natural resources that will be needed for future human activities. A model that governs sustainable use takes into account the legal and strategic guidelines for the extraction of energy and natural resources. Ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources both nationally and internationally is the aim. Environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources are closely intertwined. Additionally, a healthy environment's value and the degree to which the public is educated about its preservation are linked to the preservation of the working and living environments. All areas of human endeavour see improvements in quality of life as a result of faster technical development, but increased environmental deterioration is also a potential. Consequently, in order to achieve the objectives of the society's development policy, it is imperative to incorporate the appropriate standards that would support sustainable development. This review paper is a quick response to maintain the ecosystem's equilibrium and the surrounding area.

Casting a wider net: A national survey of Australian attitudes to marine protected areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a key international conservation strategy to regulate human pressures on marine environments and are central to marine management in Australia. Public support is considered crucial to the success of MPAs in achieving the long-term conservation of nature, yet how the broader Australian public understands and values MPAs is not well understood. Previous research has explored attitudes of direct and proximate stakeholder groups or focused on specific regions. Human connections to marine environments, however, are not limited to direct use nor confined to single geographies. We surveyed a nationally representative sample of Australian adults (n = 1049) to explore how the broader public understand, connect to, and value Australia’s marine environments and MPAs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate general attitudes to Australia’s total MPA system and interconnected marine environments with a nationally representative sample to provide an aggregated overview of Australian public attitudes. Most Australians (53%) acknowledge that they have a knowledge gap regarding the restrictions, requirements, and protections of MPAs as they apply in the Australian context, while 37% incorrectly believe that all MPAs offer uniform protections that, for example, prohibit the extraction of natural resources. Australians want to see an expansion of MPA coverage to represent 73% of Australian waters. Australians value the intrinsic biospheric characteristics of marine environments and want to see marine life as the focus when designing MPAs, above instrumental dimensions including industry and recreation. This study provides important insights for policymakers and managers in meeting broader public expectations in the expansion of Australia’s marine protections.

Exploring the dynamics: Biodiversity impacts of natural resource extraction with moderating influence of FinTech for sustainable practices in resource-rich nations

The relationship between biodiversity and natural resource extraction is a complex interplay where resource extraction can positively or negatively impact the diversity of life in ecosystems, depending on the specific context and management practices. Resource rich countries are facing this challenge to balance the growing economy natural resource needs against the richness of natural habitat. So, the study objective is to validate the non-linear impact of total natural resource extraction on biodiversity. For this purpose, 19 resource-rich countries have been considered from 2000 to 2021. A Common Correlated Mean Group (CCMG) specification is adopted in quantile regression to address cross-sectional dependence and non-normality of data. This model is specifically utilized to control for the spillover effects of natural resource markets across resource rich countries. According to the estimated results, an inverted U-shaped relationship is validated between natural resource extraction and biodiversity. Interestingly, the incorporation of financial technology encourages biodiversity. Further, the moderating effect of fintech evolves sustainable practices in natural resource extraction and promotes biodiversity. Energy intensity and population density as controlling factors of the model are damaging and improving biodiversity, respectively. Considering the inverted U-shaped relationship, policymakers are urged to design adaptive regulations that incentivize sustainable resource extraction practices. Using financial technology can play a vital role in promoting innovation and transparency, making it a critical strategy to consider.

Unlawful acts against the rights of nature and environmental impact

The evolution of mankind, driven by developments in society, science, and technology, has had a significant impact on Mother Earth or nature, resulting in serious effects on the environment, ecosystems, and biodiversity. This research critically analyses illicit acts that violate the rights of nature and assesses their environmental impact. To achieve this, we employed an approach that incorporates inductive, dogmatic, historical-logical, and descriptive legal methods through a non-experimental design. The research results show a concerning lack of respect for the rights of nature in Ecuador. Furthermore, the inadequate control of illegal acts, including the endorsement of deforestation and the illegal and irresponsible extraction of natural resources, are causing a substantial negative impact on the environment, ecosystems, flora, and fauna.

International Law Issues Concerning Marine Environment Protection in the Arctic

International Law Issues Concerning Marine Environment Protection in the Arctic

Biodiversity conservation under green extractivism and armed neoliberalism in Colombia

In the context of the global climate and ecological crisis, increasing pressure on governments and the private sector to act, combined with inertia and resistance to transformative change, has led to a new form of extractivism. Green extractivism refers to actions or activities that are promoted as environmentally sustainable but that rely on or facilitate the unsustainable extraction of natural resources. Conservation tools such as environmental offsets are embraced by governments and the private sector as a solution to address the contradictions between economic development and environmental conservation. How do such conservation measures play out in places afflicted by a history of armed conflict? Examining the evolution of environmental compensation policy in Colombia and a case study of the Hidrosogamoso dam, this article explores multiple manifestations of green extractivism intertwined with armed neoliberalism. These include the creation of biodiversity and carbon sacrifice zones that facilitate the concentration of land and the capture of natural assets; the promotion of green narratives that distract from the extensive social and ecological impacts; and the use of violent tactics to quieten dissent from local communities and environmental defenders.