Mining and sustainable development

TY - CHAP

T1 - Mining and sustainable development

AU - Gerber, Leon

AU - Sindico, Francesco

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This chapter critically assesses the role that mining and minerals have in the wider context of sustainable development. In particular, we assess the role of law (and of international law in particular) in balancing the economic interests of the mining activity, with the requirements of social justice and environmental protection. The starting point for discussion lies in the recognition of the fact that mining and minerals are present in only two brief paragraphs within the final outcome of the Rio+20 process document. We also assess the pre- and post-Rio+20 processes to determine the extent to which the debate around minerals and mining has been present in the negotiations prior to Rio. The chapter touches upon a selection of contemporary issues affecting the contribution of mining to sustainable developing, including effective post-mining closure regulation, means to enhance transparency and accountability and, ways to prevent illicit activities funded through mining activities; and the emergence of the social license and climate change debates.

AB - This chapter critically assesses the role that mining and minerals have in the wider context of sustainable development. In particular, we assess the role of law (and of international law in particular) in balancing the economic interests of the mining activity, with the requirements of social justice and environmental protection. The starting point for discussion lies in the recognition of the fact that mining and minerals are present in only two brief paragraphs within the final outcome of the Rio+20 process document. We also assess the pre- and post-Rio+20 processes to determine the extent to which the debate around minerals and mining has been present in the negotiations prior to Rio. The chapter touches upon a selection of contemporary issues affecting the contribution of mining to sustainable developing, including effective post-mining closure regulation, means to enhance transparency and accountability and, ways to prevent illicit activities funded through mining activities; and the emergence of the social license and climate change debates.

KW - Mining industry

KW - Mineral resources

KW - Rio+20

KW - Mine closure

KW - Conflict minerals

KW - Transparency

KW - Accountability

KW - International law

KW - Sustainable development

U2 - 10.1163/9789004282919_020

DO - 10.1163/9789004282919_020

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SN - 9789004282902

T3 - Queen Mary studies in international law

SP - 334

EP - 352

BT - Environmental protection and sustainable development from Rio to Rio+20

A2 - Fitzmaurice, Malgosia

A2 - Maljean-Dubois, Sandrine

A2 - Negri, Stefania

PB - Brill Academic Publishers

CY - Leiden

ER -