Economic policy uncertainty, Covid-19 and corporate investment: Evidence from the gold mining industry

Mining is a capital-intensive sector that requires substantial upfront investments and continuous capital expenditure to sustain and improve production. This study investigates the impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) on the investment decisions of the top 5 gold mining countries, namely Australia, China, Russia, the USA, and Canada, with a focus on the COVID-19 Pandemic. Using a two-step generalized method of moments, we analyze data from 333 gold mining companies from 2006 to 2021. Our results demonstrate that the EPU index has a negative effect on the investment decisions of gold mining companies during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We also utilize quantile regression analysis, which shows that the estimated coefficients for the low and high quantiles are significant. Our study reveals that during periods of uncertainty, gold mining companies tend to be risk-averse, which subsequently dampens investment projects. Furthermore, the capital-intensive nature of the gold mining sector renders companies to be more vulnerable to economic conditions. These findings have significant policy implications for investors, portfolio managers, and policymakers, which will be discussed in the conclusion section.

Transformer notre avenir en un futur soutenable : pour une planification de la transition automobile

L'industrie automobile est dans une tourmente, conjoncturelle, tout d'abord, avec un marché profondément affecté par le Covid, des pénuries de matériaux et composants et des clients désorientés ;structurelle, ensuite, avec la transition â marche forcée vers l'électrification. Cette double crise est a haut risque pour l'industrie automobile, mais l'alignement de l'action de l'ensemble des parties prenantes devrait permettre â la filiere française de rester dans la course pour l'automobile du futur.

Introduction

L'industrie automobile est a la croisée des chemins, car elle est soumise a une conjonction d'externalités d'une ampleur et d'une intensité rarement vues : absorption de toutes les crises récentes, celles du Covid et des semi-conducteurs, mais aussi celle de la hausse des prix de l'énergie. C'est celui de parvenir å intégrer ces techniques afin de parvenir a réinventer l'automobile de demain, une automobile connectée, robotisée et traitant automatiquement de grands volumes de données afin de progresser en intelligence, et de mettre celle-ci au service de l'humain, pour un usage réinventé de l'automobile et pour instaurer un systéme de mobilité plus durable. Il appelle ainsi a mieux cibler l'accompagnement des fournisseurs pour faire émerger une nouvelle génération d'ETI et aussi l'apparition de grands équipementiers leaders dans le monde de l'électrique, de l'hydrogene et, plus globalement, de l'automobile de demain. Il demande aussi que l'Europe se donne du temps pour s'adapter a la transition en protégeant temporairement, a l'instar des États-Unis, son marché intérieur.

The French automotive industry faces the challenge of the ecological transition

[...]the vehicle of the future must be considered within the broader framework of the mobility of the future, taking into account the entire value chain. Transforming our future into a sustainable future: planning for the automotive transition Didier Sepulchre de Condé, Mechanical industry The automotive industry is in turmoil, firstly because of the economic situation, with a market deeply affected by Covid, shortages of materials and components and disoriented customers;and secondly because of the structural situation, with the forced transition to electrification. The four paradoxes of the ecological transition of the European car industry Alois Kirchner, Former Director of Cabinet of the Minister for Industry The energy transition in the automotive sector is essential for achieving French and European climate objectives. [...]the actions implemented come up against four paradoxes, which must be overcome if this transition is to succeed: * the regulation on the reduction of CO2 emissions from the tank to the wheel, to the exclusion of other sources which now represent the majority of emissions from new vehicles;* the steering of vehicle traffic restrictions based on Crit'air stickers, leading to the prohibition of access to certain cities for vehicles that are more virtuous than others that are still allowed to enter;* the inability to implement policies to support the production of vehicles on European soil that are sufficiently powerful to halt the fall in associated jobs;a situation that benefits production sites that are not subject to the same environmental standards;* and the rising price of "green" vehicles, leading to a slowdown in the renewal of the fleet and the maintenance of a high level of pollution and carbon emissions.

The Moderating Role of Good Corporate Governance: The Influence of Capital Structure, Profitability, Dividend Payment and Inflation on The Value of Mining Companies in Indonesia: Acces la Success

The objectives of this research include: (1) examining and analyzing the effect of capital structure, profitability, dividend payments and inflation on the value of mining companies;(2) examining and analyzing the moderating role of Good Corporate Governance (GCG) on the effect of capital structure, profitability, dividend payment and inflation on the value of mining companies listed on the IDX. The population of this study is all mining sector companies listed on the IDX for the period 2014-2020. The purposive sampling method is used as the sampling technique. The total population is 49 companies and the number of samples that meet the criteria are 44 companies. The research period is 7 years, so the total number of observations is 308 data (pooled data). The Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) is used as the analysis method. The result is as follow: (1) capital structure has a negative significant effect on firm value;(2) profitability has a positive significant effect on firm value;(3) dividend payment has no significant effect on firm value;(4) inflation has a negative significant effect on firm value;(5) GCG has a moderating effect on the influence of capital structure, profitability and inflation on firm value, with the type of Quasi Moderating, whereas on the influence of dividend payments on firm value, it was the type of Pure Moderating.

Impact of autonomous solutions on earthmoving electrification using machine learning: case study

PurposeThis research aims to investigate the adoption of future technologies in earthmoving applications. The increased development in automated driving systems (ADS) has opened up significant opportunities to revolutionize mobility and to set the path for technologies, such as electrification. The research also aims to explore the impact of automation on electromobility in earthmoving applications.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts a multi-objective simulation-based optimization approach using machine learning in earthmoving applications.FindingsThis study concludes that ADS is "conditionally” an enabler for electrification. The study highlights and explains how local and global factors affect this conclusion. In addition to that, the research explores the impact of the equipment size on the integration of future mobility technologies. The shift from "elephant to ants” in the fleet selection resulted in improved feasibility from the integration of ADS in electrification.Originality/valueThis research provides fundamental considerations in the assessment of the impact of autonomous driving solutions on electromobility in the construction industry.

Recovery of Platinum and Palladium from Spent Automotive Catalysts: Study of a New Leaching System Using a Complete Factorial Design

The recovery of materials and energy from end-of-life products is increasingly a fundamental factor in the sustainable development of various countries. Recovering metals from different types of waste is not only a practice in support of the environment, but is also a profitable economic activity. For this reason, exhausted automotive catalysts can become renewable sources of critical raw materials such as Pt, Pd, and Rh. However, recovering Pt and Pd from spent catalysts through an efficient, economical, and green method remains a challenge. This article presents a new leaching process for the hydrometallurgical recovery of Pt and Pd from exhausted automotive catalysts. The leaching solution consists of an aqueous mixture of hydrochloric acid, two organic acids (citric acid and acetic acid) and hydrogen peroxide. A complete factorial plan on two levels (2k) was performed in order to evaluate the main effects of the analyzed factors and their interactions. The factors that were presumed to be the most influential on the leaching of Pt and Pd were the concentrations of the different reagents and the reaction time. The optimal circumstances for achieving the largest recovery (over 80% Pt and 100% Pd) were achieved using the following conditions: a concentration of HCl of 5 M, a concentration of H2O2 of 10% wt./vol., a concentration of C2H4O2 of 10%vol./vol., and a reaction time of 3 h.

Coal Is a Priority for Energy Security, until It Is Not: Coal Phase-Out in the EU and Its Persistence in the Face of the Energy Crisis

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many countries see coal as the easiest solution to their energy sector challenges, despite the consequences for climate goals. Several countries of the European Union started to re-evaluate their coal policies vis-à-vis the current energy crisis and, although such a change is expected to be short-term in nature, it nevertheless has negative consequences for the Union's 2050 climate goal. However, most of the EU countries did not revise their phase-out goals. This paper examines Slovakia as a country that embarked on a coal phase-out trajectory only a few years before the pandemic broke out and stayed firmly on this path despite benefits stemming from the continued use of domestic coal. Domestic coal used to be considered a safeguard of energy security in Slovakia, especially after the 2009 gas crisis. However, a decision was made in 2018 to phase out coal by 2023, and this has not changed despite increased focus on domestic energy sources as energy security guarantors during the current energy crisis. This paper explains the decision in favour of a coal phase-out and its support vis-à-vis the energy crisis using the concept of ‘financial Europeanisation', which stresses the importance of EU funds for the development of the domestic policies of EU member states. While the expected funds serve as a catalyst for the coal phase-out needed to reach climate goals, short-term advantages of revising a coal phase-out were outweighed by long-term benefits provided by EU funds.

Determinants of environmental disclosure of mining industry near the COVID-19 outbreak: Some Indonesian evidence

In their business operations, mining companies that process natural resources must deal with environmental degradation. The companies shall do environmental preservation to mitigate global warming due to business processes and make an environmental responsibility report to ensure a sustainable business. Whether the COVID-19 pandemic affects environmental responsibility is the focus of this study. The pandemic disrupts all sectors, including the mining industry. Therefore, this study investigates the level of environmental reporting made by mining companies before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, this study also investigates the determinants of the level of environmental reporting disclosed in either the annual report or sustainability report. Thirty-seven companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the mining sector in 2019 and 2020 were used as a sample. Results from the Wilcoxon signed rank analysis suggest that the level of environmental disclosure increased following the epidemic's spread, contrasted to levels prior to the outbreak. The multiple regression analysis reveals that public ownership and size are likely to enhance environmental disclosure. Meanwhile, leverage tends to reduce environmental disclosure. The analysis offers perspective on the capital market authority agency's new strategy aimed at enhancing aspects that could influence environmental responsibility disclosure.

Effect of Replacing Feldspar by Philippine Black Cinder on the Development of Low-Porosity Red Stoneware

Stoneware is a ceramic material with low porosity and high mechanical properties, such as the modulus of rupture. It is essentially made of clay, feldspar and quartz and is sintered to create a mixture of glass and crystalline phases. With the projected growth rate of the global ceramics market size and the country's development plan for 2023–2028, it is imperative that alternative raw materials for the manufacture of ceramic products be sourced so that the importation of these materials, such as feldspar, be minimized, if not eliminated. Cinder in the Philippines is mainly used as a filling material in pavements and residential areas. In this study, this resource is utilized as partial and full replacement of feldspar in a typical ternary diagram for stoneware production. Bars were formed from different formulations by the slip casting method and were sintered at 1200 °C. Physical and mechanical properties of the bars, such as shrinkage, loss on ignition, water absorption, apparent porosity and modulus of rupture were determined. Thermo-physical analyses were also carried out on the raw materials and on formulated powders. Meeting the requirements of the various quality standards for ceramics, the partial replacement of feldspar with black cinder (LF, LFBQ and LFBH) is feasible for wall and roof applications while full replacement of feldspar with black cinder (LB) is suitable for wider use as wall, floor, vitrified, industrial and roof tiles.

Norwegian and Russian settlements on Svalbard: An analysis of demographic and socio-economic trends

The Svalbard archipelago is a centre of global research on climate change and also an example of a rapidly changing Arctic area with tourism replacing the traditional mining industry. We compared the different development paths of the Norwegian (Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund) and Russian settlements (Barentsburg and Pyramida) on Spitsbergen as part of the Svalbard archipelago using demographic and socio-economic data until 2022 when available, but not focusing on the impacts of COVID-19 and changing geopolitics after 2022. We analysed strategy documents produced by Norway and Russia and by organisations connected to Svalbard. The analysis continued by scrutinising the statistical data available to ascertain if this supported the strategic goals outlined in the documents. Data collection was by direct enquiry to national statistical bureaus, agencies and institutions in Norway and Russia. Secondary data were collected from media publications and social media accounts. Statistics Norway provided very detailed data on demographics and industrial structure, turnover, investments and comprehensive statistics on employees by industry on Norwegian settlements on Svalbard. The results revealed disparities in socio-economic development, striking differences in data availability and in transparency between the Norwegian and Russian settlements. The population in the Norwegian settlements continued to grow during the period 1990–2022 with an increasing number of foreign nationals, and the population in the Russian settlements decreased by 85% at the same time period. The Norwegian settlements exemplify a diversified economy with a growing private sector, and the Russian settlements continued to rely on the town-forming Russian state unitary coal mining enterprise, Trust Arktikugol. While Svalbard presented a prime example of open data and transparency in the environmental sciences, the socio-economic and demographic statistics were lagging behind. Several practical proposals are presented for improved data collection on the Svalbard settlements.

Supply Chain Resilience of Mineral Resources Industry in China

Improving the supply chain resilience of the mineral resources industry is crucial for ensuring national economic security in China. Based on the supply and demand data of China's mineral resources industry from 2002 to 2018, this study adopts system dynamics model to simulate the supply chain resilience of the mineral resources industry, the mining industry, and the smelting and processing industry under the scenario of steady economic development and the scenario of supply chain crisis. From the simulation results, the reserves of the mineral resources industry and the smelting and processing industry under the two scenarios are nearly the same, indicating that they are weakly affected by the foreign market, and both have strong resilience. The mining industry has a high dependence on imports and a lack of supply chain resilience. Under the condition of steady economic development, the output of the mining industry needs to develop at a low speed to reduce production capacity. More attention should be paid to the high level of import dependence and insufficient supply chain resilience of the mining industry. In the stable international trade situation, reserves of important minerals should be increased to alleviate the resource shortage during the supply chain crisis.

Fatigue Management: Machine Learning Application for Predicting Mining Worker Fatigue

Mining workers can experience various kinds of physical and psychological impacts that will affect the emergence of fatigue. A lot of working hours and shift work mechanisms will drain many employees' energy. Research related to fatigue gives results that this affects employee performance, and even worse. This may have an impact on the emergence of an incident at work. Even greater impact will affect the company's business activities. Many mining companies have used fatigue monitoring mechanisms, but most of them provide results that are less fast and are less able to follow the pattern produced by each individual employee. This study shows the creation of a fatigue prediction model for employees using machine learning. Machine learning can identify potential whether employees are experiencing fatigue or not, so that it can assist management in making decisions. The collected data has 2 categories, namely fit and unfit. This research also uses the smote technique to balance the model so it doesn't lean towards one classes. Based on this study, it was found that the Random Forest algorithm was able to provide the best results which gives 95.4% accuracy compared to Decision Tree and Logistic Regression. According to the findings, it was found that there were variables that will have a major impact on the prediction results, namely sleep patterns and drug consumption since this data was taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research can also be used as a reference for establishing a model for determining fatigue both during Covid-19 and after Covid-19. © 2022 IEEE.

How American Mineralogist and the Mineralogical Society of America influenced a career in mineralogy, petrology, and plate pushing, and thoughts on mineralogy's future role

My geologic research began at Carleton College. I studied heavy minerals in some midcontinent orthoquartzites, publishing my very first paper in American Mineralogist in 1954. As a master’s candidate at the University of Minnesota, I investigated igneous differentiation in a diabase-granophyre sill of the Duluth Gabbro Complex. Later, in a Ph.D. program at Johns Hopkins University, I became Joe Boyd’s apprentice at the Geophysical Laboratory (GL), and for a time was phase-equilibrium god of the Na-amphiboles. Doctoral research earned me an offer of a UCLA assistant professorship as a mineralogist in 1960. There, I continued pursuing amphibole P-T stability relations in lab and field. My glaucophane phase equilibrium research would later be found to have instead crystallized Na-magnesiorichterite. However, amphibole research led me to map field occurrences of HP-LT (high P-low T) blueschists of the Franciscan Complex. Thus, when plate tectonics emerged in the late 1960s, I was deep in the subduction zone. My recent studies focused on the petrology and geochemistry of oceanic crustal rocks, Californian calc-alkaline arcs, and coesite ± microdiamond-bearing crustal margin rocks in various parts of Eurasia. Other works treated global mineral resources and population, mineralogy and human health, and early Earth petrotectonic evolution. I tried to work on important problems, but mainly studied topics that fired my interest. For the future, I see the existential challenge facing humanity and the biosphere as the imperative to stop our overdrafting of mineral resources. This will require reaching a dynamic equilibrium between the use and replenishment of near-surface resources (i.e., nutrients) essential for life. Earth scientists are planetary stewards, so we must lead the way forward in life-supporting mineral usage, recycling, substitution, and dematerialization. In any event, sustainable development will soon return to the Earth’s Critical Zone of life because Mother Nature—the ruling terrestrial economist—abhors long-term overdrafting of resourcesRecently, a series of profound calamities have overwhelmed the World—the coronavirus pandemic, disruption of the global economy, and near-universal condemnation of the widespread, systemic abrogation of human rights/racial justice. Comparable challenges have emerged episodically ever since the rise of civilization. Such problems have been addressed over the millennia with varying degrees of success. However, human efforts have never achieved dynamic environmental equilibrium between consumption of Earth resources and rates of recharge. Sustainable development remains our long-term, existential threat..

Stock returns, oil prices and leverage: evidence from US firms

Purpose>This paper aims to investigate how the relation between stock returns of US firms and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices is affected by leverage from 1990 to 2020.Design/methodology/approach>This paper examines how the relationship between stock returns of US firms and WTI oil prices is affected by leverage from 1990 to 2020 using a fixed-effect model estimation framework.Findings>Results from the fixed-effect regression models suggest that leverage effects on stock returns are pervasive both in aggregate and cross-industry levels, while the mining industry is more sensitive. In addition to the positive oil price effects attenuated by leverage at the aggregate level, the authors observe stronger marginal effects of leverage only for the mining sector. Being more exposed to commodity prices, the positive effects of oil prices on stock returns in the mining sector are offset by large debt ratios. Asymmetries, effects of debt maturity structure and implications are also discussed.Research limitations/implications>This study is grounded on the contemporary cash flow claim of leverage NOT on the long-run effect of leverage considering cash flow constraints. The oil price increase is assumed to represent an advancement of the overall economy. This study does not capture the oil prices response to some other economic forces and vice-versa.Practical implications>Mining companies should therefore reduce the stock of debt with respect to their assets to make possible the “pass-through” from oil prices to the stock market.Originality/value>Previously undocumented and the authors show that leverage reduces the total effect of oil prices on stock returns, consistent with the hypothesis. Asymmetric and debt maturity structures effects are also discussed.

GIG-ECONOMY AS A SAFETY GRADIENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING INDUSTRY

Мета. Визначити Ñ€/вень каузальности шновацшних процес/в розширення пг-економшного простору й социально!, економ/чно! та еколог/чно! захищеносл видобувно! галузi Украши в умовах зм/ни системи технолопчних уклад/в, спричинено! появою ново!' безпеково! структурно-функцiональноî Post-Covid компоненти. Запропонувати типовi сценарп сталого розвитку вттчизняно! г/гекономiки економiки в контекстi вдосконалення безпеково'! поллики у видобувнш галузi. Методика. Для досягнення зазначено! мети використане сценарне планування, Дельфi, SMART, SWOT-аналiз i математичн/ методи - економетричний i град/ентний аналiз досл/дження, що уможливлюють визначення скалярних величин i напрям/в екстремальних iнновацiйних змiн функций гiг-економiки в контекстi сталого розвитку видобувно! промисловостi Укра!ни. Розрахунки проводилися на основi програмного пакету SPSS Data Analysis Software. Результата. У робот/ системно проанал/зоваш ключовi безпековi показники науково-технiчного прогресу в контекстi сталого розвитку видобувно! галузi та встановлено взаемно однозначний зв>язок iснуючих соц/альноеконом/чних економ/чних явищ та гiг-економiчних процесiв, що в останш роки асиметрично актив/зувалися п!д впливом Post-Covid наслiдкiв. Окреслена безпекова специфiка тактичного й стратегшного управлiння гiг-економiкою. Наукова новизна. Запропоновано методичний шдхщ щодо юльюсного та як/сного визначення безпекових градiентiв розвитку видобувного господарства, що уможливлюе врахування трансформацшних Post-Covid насладив, а також диверсифiкуе тактичне та стратепчне управлiння. Зокрема, пропонуеться використати шновацшну цифрову платформу CENSIE - «Central European Network for Sustainable and Innovative Economy». Практична значимадть. Використання запропонованого подходу сприятиме падвищенню ефективносл стратег/чного й тактичного управл/ння кадровою политикою у видобувнш галуз/ в умовах формування пг-економ/ки, а також синхрон/зуе часов/ та просторов/ параметри, падвищуючи адресшсть управл/нських Ñ€/шень. Запропоновано впровадження специально!' дистанцшно! платформи «ВидобуванняФраданс» для надання фраданс-послуг домогосподарствам, Ñ„/зичним особам-падприемцям i шшим виробникам, яй будуть захищеш технологию Blockchain на баз/ юнуючо! прогами «ProZorro». При цьому Blockchain-технологи дозволять п/двищити роль профспшок, Ð¹ зможуть об'еднати пг-пращвнийв у едину систему та контролювати умови пращ, взявши на себе певн/ соцшльш зобов'язання.Alternate :Purpose. To evaluate causality of expanding the gig-economic space and the socioeconomic and ecological security of Ukraines mining industry in the context of the changing technological structures caused by the emergence of a new security structural and functional post Covid-19 component. To propose typical scenarios for sustainable development of the gig-economy in the context of improving security policy of Ukraines mining industry. Methodology. To achieve this goal, a scenario planning, Delphi, SMART, SWOT analysis and mathematical research methods - econometric and gradient analysis, were used to determine the scalar values and directions of extreme innovative changes in the gig economy in the context of sustainable development of mining industry in Ukraine. The calculations were carried out using the SPSS Data Analysis Software. Findings. The work systematically analyzes key safety indicators of scientific-technological progress for sustainable development of the mining industry and establishes a one-to-one relationship between existing socio-economic phenomena and gigeconomic processes, which in recent years have been asymmetrically activated under the influence of the post Covid-2019. The security specifics of tactical and strategic management of the gig-economy are outlined. Originality. A methodological approach to the quantitative and qualitative determination of the safety gradients of the development of the mining industry enables the consideration of transformational Post-Covid consequences, as well as diversifies tactical and strategic management. In particular, it isproposed to use an innovative digital platform CENSIE - Central European Network for Sustainable and Innovative Economy. Practical value. A proposed approach would facilitate to improve the efficiency of strategic and tactical management of personnel policy of the mining industry in the context of the formation of a gig-economy, as well as synchronize time and space parameters, increasing the targeting of management decisions. It was proposed to introduce a special remote platform MiningFreelance to provide freelance services to households, family farms and other manufacturers which will be protected by the Blockchain registry based on existing ProZorro programs. At the same time, Blockchain technologies will increase the role of trade unions, which will be able to unite gig workers into a single system and control working conditions, taking on certain social obligations.

PROBLEMATIC ISSUES OF ATTRACTING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIMES AGAINST INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

Мета. Дати рекомендацп по вдосконаленню нормативно-правових актш щодо регулювання вщповщних правовщносин у сферi кримшалтци дшнь, пов'язаних İ3 порушенням законодавства про охорону пращ. Методика. Дослщження проблемних питань притягнення до вщповщальноста за порушення вимог законодавства про охорону пращ здшснювалося через вивчення та аналш: законодавчо! бази Украши;робта науковщв у вщповщних галузях;аналшу судово! практики (на прикладi аналiзу судово! практики за справами, розглянутими судами загально! юрисдикци Днiпропетровськоī областi та Верховним Судом за останш 3 роки) з питань притягнення осШ до кримшально! вiдповiдальностi за ч.ч. 1, 2 ст. 271 Кримшального кодексу Укра!ни «Порушення шення вимог законодавства про охорону пращ». Результата. Виявлеш окремi проблеми, що виникають при формуваннi кримiнально-правовоī практики притягнення до вщповщальноста осiб, обвинувачених у скоeннi кримiнальних правопорушень, пов'язаних и порушенням законодавства про працю, що призвело до спричинення шкоди здоров'ю працiвника або його загибелi, у тому чи

Enforcing Double Materiality in Global Sustainability Reporting for Developing Economies: Reflection on Ghana’s Oil Exploration and Mining Sectors

While the development of globally accepted sustainability reporting standards initiated by the IFRS Foundation has largely engaged stakeholders in developed economies, the stakes for developing economies could be compromised without an explicit consideration of their sustainability issues within this standard-setting framework. This paper examines the need to develop global sustainability reporting standards based on the principle of double materiality to warrant that both the target towards carbon net-zero by 2050 under the Paris Agreement and the subsequent promise to accelerate under COP26 are achieved with efficacy. Adopting a multiple-case study approach, this paper reveals the limitations of existing sustainability reporting in the absence of double materiality in a developing economy. Specifically, the analyses reveal limited climate-related disclosures among selected cases in Ghana. Available disclosures connote increasing GHG emissions over the period under consideration. This study also shows weak disclosure comparability across the companies following similar reporting standards. Overall, it argues that enforcement of double materiality to embrace sustainability issues impacting both developed and developing economies is necessary for an effective transformation towards a low-carbon global economy. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge by elucidating double materiality as a pertinent interdisciplinary concept and devising a holistic framework for the emerging global sustainability reporting system to underscore governance accountability for external costs to the environment. Global sustainability reporting standards with a myopic focus on conventional financial matters in the absence of double materiality remain a disclosure system with implausible impact on climate change.

Mineral revolution for the wellbeing economy

Non-technical summary. As we consider a transition to a low-carbon future, there is a need to examine the mineral needs for this transformation at a scale reminiscent of the Green Revolution. The efficiency gains of the agrarian transition came at ecological and social costs that should provide important lessons about future metal sourcing. We present three options for a Mineral Revolution: status quo, incremental adaption and revolutionary change. We argue that a sustainable Mineral Revolution requires a paradigm shift that considers wellbeing as a purpose and focuses on preserving natural capital.Technical summary. As we consider a transition to a low-carbon future, there is a need to examine the mineral needs for this transformation at a scale reminiscent of the Green Revolution. The efficiency gains of the agrarian transition came at ecological and social costs that can also provide important lessons about the Mineral Revolution. We lay out some of the key ways in which such a mineral revolution can be delineated over temporal scales in a paradigm shift that considers wellbeing as a purpose and focuses on preserving natural capital. These prospects are conceptually presented as three pathways that consider the status quo, incremental adaption and revolutionary change as a means of planning more effectively for a low-carbon transition.Social media summary. Sourcing metals sustainably will require to consider wellbeing as a purpose and to preserve natural capital.

COVID-19 Prevention and Control: Mining Industry Responses to the Pandemic

The rapidly growing global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic crisis affects the labor-intensive mining industry. The industry is characterized by high worker mobility and 24-hour operations;thus, this continuous, mobile workforce increases the transmission risk of COVID-19 and has been a challenge for the mining industry during the pandemic. PT X, one of the largest mineral mining locations in Mimika District, Central Papua Province, Indonesia, was challenged to face the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to analyze the COVID-19 handling efforts by PT X Concentrating Division using a descriptive-analytical method to describe the completion of PT X. The assessment aimed to examine nine critical factors formulated by the International Labour Organization and evaluated as practical steps to prevent and mitigate the virus spread in the division. Furthermore, an analysis was con-ducted on data related to COVID-19 handling. The results showed that the nine critical factors had an average value of 89.41%. These results indicated that the pandemic handling efforts in the division had been implemented well.