Social Responsibility with the Sustainability of Chinese Mining Communities - Issues and Actions

Minerals are the primary resources of economic and social development. But the nature of mining and mineral development is such that various adverse impacts upon the local communities are usually inevitable. Consequently, the process of mining-led economic and social development is often associated with tensions among corporate mining objectives, recipient community needs, and governmental policy goals for regional development. This paper aims to identify the issues and problems with the sustainability and social responsibility in mining communities and address policy implications and potential actions to promote the implementation of social responsibility and the achievement of development sustainability in Chinese mining communities. It is concluded that the prevailing issues and problems identified are mineral exhaustion, environmental degradation, mine safety noncompliance, bureaucratic impediments, and lack of social responsibility, and the major implications and actions revealed include enhancing research and development, improving economic instruments, and promoting institutional reforms.