Assessment of the relationship between mineral extraction in the southern hemisphere and sustainable development

Abstract

Sustainable mineral policies are needed to achieve environmental and social equity in the global South. This study explores the need to align mineral mining in the global South with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It studies the impact of mineral mining on sustainability in 29 global South economies from 2000 to 2021. It also conducts robustness analysis and heterogeneity tests to analyze the mediation effect and the impact of the release of SDGs on sustainability. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Mineral mining has an inhibitory effect on sustainable development and has become a constraint for the achievement of sustainable development goals in the global South; (2) The more mineral-rich a country is, the more serious the adverse impact of mining activities is. The harm of mineral mining to sustainable development is most serious in Africa; (3) Mineral mining leads to an increase in ecological footprint and undermines environmental sustainability, while mineral rents may become a source of funds for clean production, offsetting the adverse effects of mineral mining; (4) The release of SDGs has prompted leaders of various countries to legislate and reform in the field of minerals, helping countries achieve sustainable development goals. The research results provide an effective reference for promoting environmental and social sustainable development in the global South.