1st Edition

Future Transitions in the Mining Industry Challenges, Controversies and Responses

Edited By Tuija Mononen, Lasse Peltonen Copyright 2026
224 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

224 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This volume focuses on mining and the challenges for this industry as it transitions and evolves as the demand for products and responsible and sustainable mining ever increases. Mining is a prerequisite for modern society, yet the industry is often criticized for having many negative environmental and social impacts. The volume explores the challenges, controversies and responses that arise... Read more

Contents

List of figures vii

List of maps vii

List of tables viii

List of contributors ix

Introduction 1

LASSE PELTONEN AND TUIJA MONONEN

1 Mining in the era of climate politics and energy transition 9

RAUNO SAIRINEN AND DANIEL HOLM

2 From social licence to societal acceptability through the lens of legitimacy: Lessons of de- and relegitimation in the case of Talvivaara- Terrafame in Finland 31

LASSE PELTONEN

3 Four factors of the social licence: A rejuvenation of the original quest 53

ROBERT G. BOUTILIER AND IAN THOMSON

4 The role of citizen attitudes towards uranium in the energy transition: Lay normativity and the opposition and support for uranium mining in three Finnish regions 75

TUIJA JARTTI

5 Collaborating beyond the concession: Moving towards water stewardship in mining 99

JUHA M. KOTILAINEN AND JOCELYN FRASER

6 Women miners and the blueprints for transitioning to sustainable mining futures 118

DORIS BUSS AND BLAIR RUTHERFORD

7 Green energy’s buried conflict: Latin America’s mining paradox in the clean energy age 135

RAJIV MAHER, DIEGO GÁLVEZ PINO AND JULIETA GODFRID

8 Reappraising innovation strategies at African small- scale mines: Past developments and future directions 154

EKOW BARTELS AND GAVIN HILSON

9 Mining for sustainability, acceptance and healthy work environments: A miner’s perspective 188

JOEL LÖÖW, LENA ABRAHAMSSON, ERIK LUND, ERIK SUNDSTRÖM AND JAN JOHANSSON

Index 203

Biography

Tuija Mononen is University Researcher with title of docent in Environmental Policy at the University of Eastern Finland, where she is Head of the Research Center for Mining, Minerals, and Society (CEMMS).

Lasse Peltonen is Professor of Environmental Governance and Conflict Resolution at the University of Eastern Finland.