Fair Development Transition of Lignite Areas: Key Challenges and Sustainability Prospects

Christina G. Siontorou ()
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Christina G. Siontorou: Laboratory of Simulation of Industrial Processes, Department of Industrial Management and Technology, School of Maritime and Industry, University of Piraeus, 185 34 Piraeus, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: As Europe transitions away from fossil fuel energy, the challenges associated with closing mines, along with restructuring mine-dependent communities, continue to reduce the rate at which this transition occurs. A large volume of research has been published during the last decade on the fair development context of mine reclamation. Using lignite mines as a case study and a properly modified analytical-hierarchy-process-based roadmapping methodological framework, the current study attempted to elucidate the key challenges and the bottlenecks that researchers view as critical to a just transition. The results indicated four critical areas that researchers expected to drive policymaking: social implications, stakeholder divergence, land-use challenges and sustainability prospects. Further, the coupling of mining operations to green strategies, such as circular economy and recycling, seems to be put forward by the academics as a viable solution to enhance the sustainability of the sector.

Keywords: lignite mines; mine closure; environmental and social impacts assessment; land reclamation; mine restoration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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