Beyond the surface: An analysis of the institutional regime in the extractive industries in Sweden and Spain

Mineral raw materials consumption is expected to increase in the near future. Their extraction is frequently associated with adverse effects on renewable resources, such as water and biodiversity, and rivalries with other interests. In this article, we investigate how existing institutional regimes safeguard the sustainability of resources affected by mineral extraction. We apply an Institutional Resource Regime analytical framework to two case studies, in Sweden and Spain, to identify regulatory incoherences and gaps that lead to unsustainable use of resources employed in extractive activities, and the changes required to shift towards integrated institutional regimes. We find that in both cases extractive activity operates within complex institutional regimes which do not guarantee sustainability as a result of 1) ongoing pollution from historic mining, 2) weak policy enforcement, 3) a mismatch between property rights and public policy, 4) lack of mandatory instruments that promote a deeper understanding of the cumulative effect of land use changes. We reflect on the role of land use planning and strategic environmental assessment in moving towards more integrated institutional regimes. We conclude that a clearer definition is needed of the limits within which extraction can take place sustainably, setting priorities in terms of raw materials consumption and the importance of a wider discourse on responsible mineral consumption.