Life Quality Investments and Environmental Damage Decreasing in Coal Mining Regions

Abstract

The industrialized Kuzbass (Kemerovo Region, Russia) is not only a source of raw materials for the planet, but also a manufacturer of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and chemical products. Since 1990s, the “lungs of the planet” – Siberian taiga – has been actively cut down, and mining and processing enterprises are being built. A large part of the territory of Kuzbass is exposed to a strong technogenic impact. The consequence of the irreversible process of destruction and degradation of soil under industrial waste dumps during open-pit mining of coal, pollution of groundwater and surface water, atmospheric pollution by industrial emissions is the disappearance of natural flora and fauna, as well as the catastrophic threat to the health of people living in the region. Only 30% of the territory of the region, where 5-10% of the population lives, correspond to satisfactory environmental conditions. The article discusses the problems of anthropogenic pressure and environmental capacity of the territory on the example of the Kemerovo region, attempts to assess damage to land resources in the Kemerovo region on the example of 2017, based on the standard methodology for assessing the need for investment in environmental protection.

Influence of Coal Mining Activities on Soil's Agrochemical and Biochemical Properties

“…Recultivation of technologically disturbed land is a vital task in environmental protection (Almanova et al, 2016;Wallace-Wells, 2019). The main need for reclamation consists of restoring the value of disturbed lands, improving the ecological conditions of the area, and creating harmonious landscapes that meet ecological, economic, aesthetic, and sanitary-hygienic requirements (Ishtiaq et al, 2018;Kopytov, 2018;Mikhaylov et al, 2020;Mussynov et al, 2014;Nasiyev & Dukeyeva, 2023;Sagdeeva et al, 2019). The Kuznetsk Basin, located primarily in the Kemerovo region of Russia, is one of the world's largest coal mining regions (Kopytov & Shaklein, 2018).…”

Limitations of the implementation of the concept of sustainable development in a coal mining region (the case of the Kemerovo region - Kuzbass)

“…The coal industry is one of the main entities causing colossal damage to the environment, which is recognized not only by Russian scientists, but also by their foreign colleagues [10][11][12][13][14][15]. An increase in coal production leads to an increase in the areas of disturbed lands, and the share of reclaimed lands in the total volume of disturbed lands is extremely small (Table 1) According to official statistics, over the past three years (2017-2019), emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere have increased: according to experts, 86% of harmful emissions are mine methane.…”