Jane Marsh, Editor-in-Chief for environment.co, explains how coal mining will remain a critical part of the energy sector for the foreseeable future, and that, in the meantime, operations can strive for decarbonisation and equity.
Every industry benefits from a climate-friendly rebrand. This includes the coal industry, despite ever-increasing interest in renewable sources of energy. Miners are advancing to more ethical practices using the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) framework. Fortunately, stakeholders have already made numerous improvements. These include:
Goal 3: Good health and well-being
Coal dust and related pollution seep into communities from mining activities like blasting, loading, and cutting. These are linked to numerous health problems, so controlling contamination generation and spread in the air and water is vital for SDG contributions.
Studies about the effectiveness of conventional methods, like surfactants in water-based sprays, are minimal, instigating novel research to mend knowledge gaps. These discoveries will make sites more effective at controlling and capturing pollution. The most dependable methods mines must incorporate include:
- Surface tension testing.
- Sink tests.
- Contact angle measurements.
- Remote sensing technologies.
Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Fossil fuel-based companies can use renewable energy as much as a residence. For example, Gillette, Wyoming, relies on coal for its economy, but it still partnered with the Nature Conservancy to see how solar farms could supplement financial stressors and minimise negative impacts.
The project is also considering carbon capture, as transmission lines already exist. With this, the mines could harness the greenhouse gas emissions they produce and repurpose them as more power. The trend persists worldwide, driving down costs while supporting the electricity transition.
Some entities are undergoing electrification, while others are adopting hybrid setups. Examples include diesel-over-electric crushers, which leverage a diesel engine and electric motor to use far fewer resources than traditional direct-drive engines.
Goal 13: Climate action
Climate action promotes planning, resilience, and awareness. All SDG initiatives directly or indirectly support climate action, as the main objective of lowering environmental destruction by 2030 still remains. Collaborating with experts and business partners to instigate carbon capture and pollution reduction is an example of this.
One of the most meaningful ways miners can be more sustainable is by decarbonising related industries. For instance, concrete is one of the most intensive materials made on Earth. Miners could redirect site waste to companies in this sector to craft construction components with reduced carbon emissions.
Goal 15: Life on land
Activists see mines as visual representations of climate negligence. Previously, biodiverse and lush habitats existed in these places, and now humans have stripped them of their resources and left them barren. However, mining companies’ relationships with lands are changing, as many include rehabilitation as part of their models.
Organisations are reclaiming land to support wildlife again. This includes reforestation, grading, soil remediation, and waste control. It also requires stakeholders to audit the area regularly to ensure successful reacclimation. Corporations will need to follow compliance guidelines to guarantee they are following the industry’s best practices for ethical environmental interactivity.
How coal embraces the SDGs
As long as coal is still a primary energy source on Earth, workers must harness it in the most eco-conscious ways possible. Advancements prove sustainable development can work with mining. These techniques will improve the welfare of employees and communities, so progress inspired by sustainable development must continue at all costs.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/13022025/how-coal-mines-are-integrating-sustainable-development-goals/