Mining conflicts in the European Union: environmental and political perspectives

Authors

  • Sonja Kivinen University of Eastern Finland
  • Juha Kotilainen Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland
  • Timo Kumpula Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland

Abstract

Comprehensive knowledge on the issues contributing to mining conflicts is crucial in balancing between the exploitation of mineral deposits and local claims. We explore recent mining conflicts in the European Union using information derived from the Global Atlas of Environmental Justice to improve the understanding of the  potential impacts of the intensification of mining activities by the new minerals policies. The variety of causes of conflict is wide and ranges from environmental impacts to socio-economic and health concerns of the populations residing in the vicinity of the mines. While mining conflicts have arisen during all the phases of the life cycle of a mine, new mining projects have been well presented amongst the conflicts. Policy makers should increasingly pay attention to the multiple impacts that mining has had on the environment and socially, in order to be able to put the plans for increasing minerals extraction in Europe into practice.

Section
Reviews and Essays

Published

2020-08-23

How to Cite

Kivinen, S., Kotilainen, J., & Kumpula, T. (2020). Mining conflicts in the European Union: environmental and political perspectives. Fennia - International Journal of Geography, 198(1-2), 163–179. https://doi.org/10.11143/fennia.87223