Sustainability transition paradox: Emerging dimensions of illegal artisanal and small-scale mining of critical minerals in Africa

IF 10.2 2区 经济学 0 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
James Boafo , Francis Arthur-Holmes
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The global push for energy transition has intensified competition for Africa's mineral resources, which are essential for producing low-emission technologies. This renewed demand is reshaping the continent's extractive sector and, in some cases, exacerbating governance challenges and reinforcing illegal artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities. In this review, we examine how the search and demand for critical minerals contribute to illegal ASM operations in Africa. Drawing on emerging evidence from the copper industry in Zambia, the lithium sector in Zimbabwe, and the cobalt industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we identify a growing incidence of illegal ASM activities involving critical minerals. Our findings suggest that the high global demand for critical minerals contributes to illegal ASM activities in our case study countries. However, significant contributing factors include rural poverty, unemployment, limited livelihood options, access to mineral-rich lands, declining agricultural productivity due to climate change, and the need for funds to support rebel activities. We argue that the race for Africa's resources to support global energy transition may create a sustainability transition paradox—advancing long-term social and technological transformation while simultaneously intensifying sustainability challenges such as environmental degradation and water pollution. These insights have important implications for policies aimed at promoting responsible mining practices and ensuring that energy transitions are both equitable and sustainable.
可持续转型悖论:非洲关键矿物非法手工和小规模开采的新方面
全球对能源转型的推动加剧了对非洲矿物资源的竞争,这些资源对生产低排放技术至关重要。这种新的需求正在重塑非洲大陆的采掘业,在某些情况下,加剧了治理挑战,并加剧了非法手工和小规模采矿活动。在这篇综述中,我们研究了对关键矿物的寻找和需求如何导致非洲的非法ASM操作。根据来自赞比亚铜行业、津巴布韦锂行业和刚果民主共和国钴行业的新证据,我们发现涉及关键矿物的非法ASM活动越来越多。我们的研究结果表明,全球对关键矿物的高需求导致了我们的案例研究国家的非法ASM活动。然而,重要的促成因素包括农村贫困、失业、有限的生计选择、获得矿产资源丰富的土地的机会、气候变化导致的农业生产力下降以及支持反叛活动所需的资金。我们认为,争夺非洲资源以支持全球能源转型可能会产生可持续性转型悖论——在推进长期社会和技术转型的同时,加剧了环境退化和水污染等可持续性挑战。这些见解对旨在促进负责任的采矿做法和确保能源转型既公平又可持续的政策具有重要影响。
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来源期刊
Resources Policy
Resources Policy ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-
CiteScore
13.40
自引率
23.50%
发文量
602
审稿时长
69 days
期刊介绍: Resources Policy is an international journal focused on the economics and policy aspects of mineral and fossil fuel extraction, production, and utilization. It targets individuals in academia, government, and industry. The journal seeks original research submissions analyzing public policy, economics, social science, geography, and finance in the fields of mining, non-fuel minerals, energy minerals, fossil fuels, and metals. Mineral economics topics covered include mineral market analysis, price analysis, project evaluation, mining and sustainable development, mineral resource rents, resource curse, mineral wealth and corruption, mineral taxation and regulation, strategic minerals and their supply, and the impact of mineral development on local communities and indigenous populations. The journal specifically excludes papers with agriculture, forestry, or fisheries as their primary focus.
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