Mining industry and sustainable development: time for change

TLDR

Mining supplies essential materials, energy, and fertilizers for modern infrastructure and food production, yet it remains the most environmentally damaging human activity with significant social inequalities, making its future sustainability critical. The authors review major mining sectors—from phosphate to uranium—examining their legacy, current environmental impacts, remediation efforts, and future challenges in the context of environmental health and sustainable development. They conclude that mining practices must shift toward equitable community development and stronger protection of natural resources and ecosystems to achieve environmental acceptability and sustainable development goals.

Abstract

Abstract Mining industries provide most of the materials we rely on to build infrastructures and instruments of daily use, to obtain large amounts of energy, and to supply agriculture with fertilizers that enable most of foods produced. At the same time, mining is the human activity that has been more disturbing to environment and is linked to large social impacts and inequalities. Notwithstanding, our future is deeply depending on mining. Several mining sectors, from phosphate to uranium, are reviewed and their current impacts and challenges are discussed. The mining legacy and environmental remediation, the present mining and challenges, and the future mining and society are discussed in relationship with environmental health and sustainable development. It is concluded that current mining practices need to change and contribute to community development with more equity, and to protect better natural resources and ecosystems in order to be environmentally acceptable and compliant with sustainable development objectives.