As the world shifts away from fossil fuels, we will need to produce materials for vast arrays of wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen and more. Demand for the raw materials, from aggregates to metals, needed to build these and other components of the infrastructure required for decarbonisation will skyrocket. Securing access to these raw materials is essential for building a sustainable low-carbon economy, but how is this carried out responsibly and fairly? Improving the sustainability of all aspects of the extractive industries is vital, otherwise the looming supply shortage in the coming decades will lead to a range of geopolitical, economic, and environmental issues.

Earth Science, Systems and Society (ES3) is launching this Special Issue on "Sustainability in the Extractive Industries" to put a spotlight on the important and varied role that Earth science plays in the circular economy for raw materials. This includes all aspects of the mining lifecycle, from discovery through to reclamation.

We invite contributions on the extractives industry and raw materials (new research, reviews, and perspectives) to this Special Issue from a range of Earth science and related fields, including - but not limited to - the following:

• Responsible mining
• Socioeconomic and Environmental aspects of mining at all scales
• Novel exploration approaches
• Applied Mineralogy to enhance recovery and beneficiation
• Transdisciplinary studies including recycling, substitution and unconventional sources of materials
• Advances in mineral processing, comminution and geometallurgy
• Valorizing mine wastes
• Land remediation
• Governance and social license to operate
• Sustainability in the supply chain
• Circular economy
• Safety in the extractives industry

Authors are invited to submit papers for consideration via the Journal’s submission platform here.

The Special Issue will remain open to submissions through to the end of July 2023.

For more information about the Journal scope, article types, and article processing charges, see here.

Keywords: critical raw materials, mining, circular economy, sustainability, COP26, sustainable energy