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Methane emissions from coal mining remain a significant environmental challenge in the European Union, particularly in the context of climate change commitments and the ongoing transformation of the energy sector. This article analyses methane emissions from surface and underground coal mining, distinguishing between emissions from mining activities, abandoned underground mines, and post-mining activities. A key aspect of the analysis is the methane emissions per 1000 tonnes of lignite and hard coal mined, which allows a comparison of emission intensities between different mining methods. Between 2009 and 2021, methane emissions from coal mining in the EU decrease, with reductions of 2436 kt CO2 eq. (87 kt CH4) from surface mining and 16,518 kt CO2 eq. (590 kt CH4) from underground mining. However, total methane emissions in 2021 still amount to 25,414 kt CO2 eq. (908 kt CH4), with underground mining contributing 84.7% of the emissions. Discrepancies in national emissions reporting and the lack of transparent data on methane emissions from imported coal make accurate assessments difficult. Strengthening international cooperation, improving data transparency, and exploring methane recovery for energy use are essential steps towards achieving the EU’s climate change objectives.

The use of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) in both traction and stationary applications has become ubiquitous. It is essential that retired LIBs are wisely treated, with a basis in the concept of the circular economy, to mitigate primary resource use. A closed-loop repurposing and recycling treatment is required. Thus, using the concept of total material requirement as an indicator of natural resource use based on mining activity, a dynamic material flow analysis was executed considering the degradation of the battery, its lifespan, and demand patterns under several scenarios. Then, the effect of circularity on the savings in global natural resource use involved across the entire lifecycles of LIBs was evaluated. It was found that the global resource use for LIBs will increase to between 10 and 48 Gt in 2050. Circularity has the potential to contribute to an 8–44% reduction in the global resource use associated with LIBs in 2050. It was also found that a longer lifespan in the years leading up to 2050 would have a greater impact on the reduction of resource use for LIBs, despite the lower effectiveness of circularity, because it would reduce the demand for LIBs.

The Amazonian indigenous peoples depend on natural resources to live, but human activities’ growing impacts threaten their health and livelihoods. Our objectives were to present the principal results of an integrated and multidisciplinary analysis of the health parameters and assess the mercury (Hg) exposure levels in indigenous populations in the Brazilian Amazon. We carried out a cross-sectional study based on a census of three Munduruku indigenous villages (Sawré Muybu, Poxo Muybu, and Sawré Aboy), located in the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land, between 29 October and 9 November 2019. The investigation included: (i) sociodemographic characterization of the participants; (ii) health assessment; (iii) genetic polymorphism analysis; (iv) hair mercury determination; and (v) fish mercury determination. We used the logistic regression model with conditional Prevalence Ratio (PR), with the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI95%) to explore factors associated with mercury exposure levels ≥6.0 µg/g. A total of 200 participants were interviewed. Mercury levels (197 hair samples) ranged from 1.4 to 23.9 μg/g, with significant differences between the villages (Kruskal–Wallis test: 19.9; p-value < 0.001). On average, the general prevalence of Hg exposure ≥ 6.0 µg/g was 57.9%. For participants ≥12 years old, the Hg exposure ≥6.0 µg/g showed associated with no regular income (PR: 1.3; CI95%: 1.0–1.8), high blood pressure (PR: 1.6; CI95%: 1.3–2.1) and was more prominent in Sawré Aboy village (PR: 1.8; CI95%: 1.3–2.3). For women of childbearing age, the Hg exposure ≥6.0 µg/g was associated with high blood pressure (PR: 1.9; CI95%: 1.2–2.3), with pregnancy (PR: 1.5; CI95%: 1.0–2.1) and was more prominent among residents in Poxo Muybu (PR: 1.9; CI95%: 1.0–3.4) and Sawré Aboy (PR: 2.5; CI95%: 1.4–4.4) villages. Our findings suggest that chronic mercury exposure causes harmful effects to the studied indigenous communities, especially considering vulnerable groups of the population, such as women of childbearing age. Lastly, we propose to stop the illegal mining in these areas and develop a risk management plan that aims to ensure the health, livelihoods, and human rights of the indigenous people from Amazon Basin.

Despite ongoing institutional reforms to mitigate longstanding bottlenecks in natural resource governance, persistent legal pluralism complicates and constrains such efforts in Africa. This is evident in post-independence countries like Ghana, where customary institutions have evolved to bear state-like qualities and thus co-govern land-based resources with the state. The shift towards digitised land governance systems within contexts where strong customary land institutions exist introduces complexities or refracts fundamental governance issues. These issues include ambiguous land boundaries and conflicting or competing narratives of land ownership rights, family settlement histories, and dependencies on customary institutions for local citizenship recognition. This paper explores land disputes, rival narratives and competing claims by community members to protect their interests against land dispossession and relocation by a mining company in the Ahafo-North and Prestea Municipalities of Ghana. These municipalities are characterised by intensified gold mining and a history of extractive activities and face deep-rooted competition among stakeholders advocating for sustainable land resource governance. The study reveals that land digitalisation is not a “silver bullet” solution to perennial land governance challenges unless tensions between the co-existing formal and customary institutions are adequately addressed.

The present study was focused on evaluating the manner in which heavy metals originated from natural and anthropic sources (former mining activity in Baiut metallogenic area), in the upper basin of the Lăpuș River, transferred into sediments and accumulated in the riparian vegetation. Total concentrations of Pb, Ni, and Cd, classified as priority hazardous substances in the WFD, were measured in samples of water, sediments and some emergent flora species (Equisetum fluviatile, Myosotonaquaticum, Carexaquatilis, Salix fragilis, Mentha aquatica, Juncus spp.), in 4 selected sections of the Lăpuș River, including a reference section (a pollution free area). The heavy metal concentration in collected samples were determined by atomic adsorption spectrometry. In all the monitored sections the heavymetals concentrations were higher in plants than in sediments or water samples. The highest concentrations were recorded for Pb, then for Ni and lastly for Cd in the genus Carexand Salixin the most contaminated river section. The results of the study show that the ability to accumulate heavy metals differs between species, and affinity for a particular metal depends on its bioavailability.

Mining is an anthropogenic activity, that alters rare earth elements (REEs) distribution, changes the ecological environment of mining areas, and pollutes surrounding areas. However, the impacts of mining activities on REEs distribution and chemical morphological changes in mining soils are still poorly understood. In the present study, REEs fractionation and chemical speciation in both mining and unexploited soils were investigated through BCR sequential extraction. Most of the soil samples presented positive cerium (Ce) anomalies and negative europium (Eu) anomalies. The ratios of light rare earth elements (LREEs) to heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and the total rare earth elements (TREEs) contents in mining soil were lower than those in unexploited soil. In unexploited soils, REEs were dominated by the residual fraction, and the exchangeable fraction was the lowest, accounting for 50.85–91.41% and 0.15–13.02% of TREEs, respectively. Mining activities modified REEs chemical speciations, which notably increased the exchangeable fraction (0.47-56.00%) and decreased the residual fraction (4.62–65.01%) in mining areas. Moreover, the reducible fraction also significantly increased in mining soils, accounting for 21.15–63.29% of TREEs. Compared with the unexploited areas, the relationships between soil properties and REEs distribution in mining areas were more pronounced. However, mining activities exerted little effect on the chemical speciation of Fe and Al, and the proportions of the residual fraction were dominant both before and after mining. These results demonstrated that mining activities decreased the contents of TREEs, redistributed REEs chemical morphological patterns, and increased their mobility and bioavailability, which are the principal anthropogenic sources of REEs entering environments and increase the risk of soil pollution.

This study explores the hydrogeochemical processes and groundwater quality of different aquifers in the Caojiatan coal mine in the Ordos Basin, northwestern China, using classical graphical methods and multivariate analysis. The study found that surface water and groundwater in the Quaternary unconsolidated aquifer (UA) and weathered bedrock zone (WZ) have a HCO3–Ca·Mg hydrochemical type, while the groundwater in the Jurassic Zhiluo aquifer (ZA) and Jurassic Yanan aquifer (YA) are predominantly of the HCO3–Na type. Rock weathering, silicate dissolution, and reverse cation exchange are the dominant hydrogeochemical processes controlling the water chemical variables in the study area. In addition, variations in the hydraulic conductivities and TDS in different aquifers indicate that groundwater residence time is also the main factor controlling the chemical variables. Groundwater in the UA and WZ is suitable for drinking and irrigation, with low ion concentrations. However, the groundwater in ZA and YA must be treated before drinking, because of the high pH value. The excessive concentrations of F-, and high sodium adsorption ratio Na%, and residual sodium carbonate values also make the water unsuitable for irrigation. Mining activities can significantly impact the circulation and occurrence of natural groundwater. Once the groundwater in WZ becomes mine water, it becomes contaminated because of the mixing process with groundwater in ZA and YA. Further, undissolved coal slime and large quantities of oil leaking from fully mechanized mining equipment increase the CODMn levels in the mine water, making the levels higher than in natural groundwater and beyond permissible limits for drinking.

The new Mining Code of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) introduced modified fiscal and customs regimes, impacting both the state and extractive companies. For the state, these regimes led to an increase in public revenues, contributing to the financing of essential services such as health, education, and infrastructure. For extractive companies, the new regimes resulted in higher fiscal burdens, with high tax rates and a multiplicity of taxes and royalties. This increased pressure on operating costs, making Congolese mining companies more competitive while discouraging foreign investments and leading to a decline in mining production. To reconcile the fiscal interests of the state with those of mining operators, it is recommended to strengthen the legislative and regulatory framework of the Congolese mining fiscal regime, promote dispute resolution methods such as arbitration or mediation, and consider renegotiating fiscal contracts.

On February 22, 2023, a devastating landslide occurred on the mining slope of an open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, China, leading to the mining area being buried and 53 fatalities. The source area of the landslide measured approximately 500 m in both length and width, with an estimated volume of the deposited material reaching approximately 5 million cubic metres. Based on the severe impact of this incident, our study conducted preliminary research using a combination of methodologies, including particle image analysis, synthetic aperture radar interferometry, interpretation of optical remote sensing data, and post-event news reports analysis. The results indicated that the landslide lasted 23 s from initiation to cessation of movement. The historical deformation indicated that prior to the resumption of the mining activities, only localized deformation was observed at the rear edge of the landslide. However, when mining activities resumed in April 2021 and extended to the vicinity of the north slope, the deformation range and rate in the source area of the landslide rapidly increased. The investigation deduced that the soft foundation at the slope bottom and mining activities are the primary causative factors of this event. Mining activities, which stripped coal seams within the slope and surface rock masses, led to the expansion of tension cracks within the landslide body, weakening resisting forces at the leading edge and thus playing a significant role in destabilizing the landslide body. The evolution of the landslide from incubation to instability could be divided into four stages: early microcrack development, slow creep, accelerated deformation after resumption of mining, and ultimate instability. Therefore, it is of great significance to advance real-time deformation monitoring and early warning systems specifically those designed for mining slope areas by comprehensive measures. Furthermore, enhancing the high-frequency monitoring capabilities of synthetic aperture radar satellites is crucial to reducing the occurrence of these catastrophic events.

Mining activity in Granma Province has gained strategic relevance following the implementation of the National Program for the Local Production of Construction Materials. Within this framework, mineral deposits previously considered of low economic value have become viable resources for both state-owned and non-state producers of construction materials. The San Pedro deposit, located in Granma Province, is currently exploited by open-pit mining, which generates significant environmental impacts and highlights the need for adequate environmental management. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental impacts caused by the mining activity at the San Pedro deposit and to develop a mitigation plan to reduce its negative effects. The Environmental Impact Assessment methodology established in the guidelines for Environmental License applications was applied. The methodological procedure consisted of seven stages that allowed the identification and classification of the main environmental impacts generated by the mining activity. The results made possible to identify the most significant environmental impacts produced during the different phases of aggregate extraction and processing, as well as their interaction with the environmental components of the study area. Based on this analysis, a set of mitigation and corrective measures was proposed to improve environmental management and ensure adequate control of environmental factors within the project area and its surroundings.