Declaration of the Sustainable Development Goals of Mining Companies and the Effect of Their Activities in Selected Areas

Abstract

The article addresses the issues of sustainable development in relation to a selected group of mining companies. The main objective of the article was to verify the companies’ declarations on the convergence of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the assessment of their actual actions. In order to achieve this objective, the authors hypothesized and adopted, among others, a multi-stage logical thinking-based methodology. In addition, several research methods were used, i.e., a review of regulations and scientific articles, a qualitative literature review—extracting and collecting information, developing a categorization framework, and a comparative method based on a case study. The study started with extracting and collecting social and environmental information disclosed by Polish mining companies at the level of declaring SDGs targets (KGHM, LW Bogdanka, and JSW). Sourced from reports and company statements. In the next step, a leader (KGHM) was selected, and a comparison was made with a global enterprise (Barrick Gold), according to the adopted categorization framework for social initiatives. Common areas of both SDGs declarations and actions for these entities were identified, and measures of their implementation were suggested. Two main metrics were proposed for the social area, i.e., health and safety in relation to the financial performance of the companies and diversity in management and supervisory bodies. The role and importance of the prioritization of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) disclosures by the industry players are indicated.

Energy Sector’s Green Transformation towards Sustainable Development: A Review and Future Directions

“…However, among the results presented in the form of bibliometric maps, there are SD areas related to the green transformation in the energy sector. The exploration of the Scopus-indexed literature is important for understanding the processes of the energy transition and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the energy sector [83,84].…”

Conceptual application of digital twins to meet ESG targets in the mining industry

“…Though environmental and social dimensions have been transforming the way the mining sector conducts business, the governance dimension has not been as relevant (Woźniak et al, 2022). Governance dimensions are defined by the organizational and management processes that provide control over company actions (Saxena et al, 2023).…”

“…It has become stakeholder expectation of the mining industry, that mining companies are managing the risk of ESG impacts (Woźniak et al, 2022). To maintain the trust with stakeholders and avoid "greenwashing" and "ethical washing", mining companies need to report both financial and non-financial data that are reliable and available to the public (Pimonenko et al, 2020).…”

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Role of Companies in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

“…In the wake of escalating global challenges, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have emerged as a beacon of hope, outlining a comprehensive framework for addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic issues [1], [2]. Amidst this landscape, the role of companies in advancing sustainable development has garnered increasing attention [3]. As key players in the global economy, companies wield significant influence over resource allocation, innovation, and societal impact [4].…”