The Aspects of Sustainable Development in Mineral Resources Management

Abstract

Mineral resources provide a high standard of living for modern societies: satisfying electricity demand as well as demand for construction materials and they sustain the basis for industry and technological development. Now, modern societies are facing the challenge of reversing the trend of the depletion of non-renewable mineral resources and sustainable development is intended to ensure the survival of human civilization in the face of dwindling non-renewable raw materials (especially energy resources) and also increasing anthropopression and related environmental pollution. The amount of non-renewable mineral resources of the Earth's crust is limited. Under specific conditions there is a possibility of their regeneration however over a period of several if not more than a dozen generations. The article raises questions how societies can prevent mineral resources crises in future and whether this task is feasible. The article identifies the main aspects of the sustainable development in mining sector in Poland as well as environmental challenges related to the new CSR mechanism which are: the creation and implementation of sustainable and responsible business model which thanks to reformed financial and economic system, will make creating a better future easier, more natural and more cost-effective. The crucial aspects of sustainable development as economic and social conditions, environmental challenges, safety of agglomeration located in the area of exploitation of resources or in its neighborhood were also presented in the article. The author highlighted the legal conditions for the management of deposits and extracted mineral resources as well as work safety and research and development activities in the sector.