A “fast” approach to business — characterized by overconsumption across supply chains — has become almost ubiquitous in recent years.
Fast fashion is one of the most , often relying on synthetic fibres that have an ultimate origin in fossil fuels.
At the same time, the links between entities and and deteriorating is well established. Likewise, fast technology brands to boost sales, requiring that more and more mineral wealth is extracted from the ground. Almost all of these activities require mining in some form along the supply chain.
Mining is also increasingly fast, with a focus on the creation of wealth for a select few and meeting global demand, not on the needs of local communities. Since the 1970s, global material footprint . While circular economy strategies, such as in meeting the increasing demand for raw materials, .
The and movements are an antidote to overconsumption, promoting sustainability by emphasizing the value of quality, origin and production. New research suggests that a slow, small-scale mining movement could maintain supply, yield similar sustainability outcomes and .
Out of this Earth
The central premise of slow mining is to give control over production levels to those who work at the mine site itself. The concept recognizes that meeting global demands for raw materials requires local solutions and was evolved out of research into Canada. Additional has also shown how slow mining efforts led by small-scale miners can supply vital materials while also taking care of both local communities and environment.
Small-scale mining is the gradual harvest of a resource by a using (such as equipment) that miners are able . Small-scale miners can also be owner-operators of their mines where they have control over production rates to protect local communities and extend the life-of-mine for continued and secure steady income.
Small-scale mining activities are relatively common throughout the Yukon where work to . By comparison, a single large-scale hard-rock gold mine can generate approximately ounces annually in the same territory.
Yukon stands out as one of the few active small-scale mining industries in the Global North.
Artisanal and small-scale mining employ more than in the Global Â鶹ÊÓƵ. “Slow” small-scale mining operations in Ghana have persisted despite shutdowns by a government that have under the .
Supportive structures
There are significant similarities and differences between the experiences of small-scale miners and Ghana. Notably, in both the Global North and the Global Â鶹ÊÓƵ, governance and regulation can hinder the existence of smaller mining enterprises.
Important regulatory frameworks, such as the Canadian . This framework can make it difficult for small-scale mining enterprises to enter the sector. The dominant focus on large mining enterprises, tied to stock markets and globalization, overshadows the potential benefits of small-scale mining.
However, the Yukon government’s has helped to incubate and protect small-scale mining. Meanwhile, a who work with Yukon mining practitioners to develop place-based solutions that promote positive outcomes for mining practitioners and environment has helped the Yukon become a global leader in slow-mining.
The resulting embrace of slow, small-scale mining has enabled rural communities to gradually adapt and grow with the industry. This approach enhances community resilience to boom-and-bust commodity life cycles, facilitates the development of integrated rural value chains and promotes local ownership and management, all of which can curb urban migration and create .
Sustainable production-consumption ethos
The insights in small-scale mining from the Yukon have implications for a growing array of globally in-demand mineral and metal resources. have advanced towards holistic understanding, rooted in strong sustainability. , and working with Indigenous people and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into the mine life cycle are key to overcoming sustainability challenges.
We need anchored in local communities. and mining are being considered in Europe. Artisanal and small-scale mining in medium- and low-income nations .
Who owns a mine is important and research has shown that decentralized, locally owned mines and can help resist .
In Canada, is economically and socially viable.
Better alternatives
This comes at an important juncture in the expansion of raw material extraction activities that are needed to sustain the low-carbon transition but can potentially cause excessive stress to the natural environment and communities.
Slow mining illustrates how widespread global consumption is tied to the experience of mining communities, and the expectations of local stakeholders for sustainable livelihoods in sustainable environments.
Alongside slow fashion and slow food, slow mining demonstrates that the responsibility for better environmental and social outcomes lies with both a truly responsible mining industry, and a responsible culture of moderate consumption.
, PhD Candidate, Earth and Environmental Sciences, ; , Senior Lecturer, Politics and International Relations, , and , Senior Lecturer in Critical and Green Technology Metals,
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