Foreword

Mining regions can play an essential role in meeting climate goals and in accelerating the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Global environmental agendas have recognised the relevance of the mining sector to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Particularly, European Union (EU) priorities, driven by the Green Deal and the new Industrial Strategy, have made the environmental sustainability of mining extraction and transformation a priority to achieve the EU’s climate neutrality goal by 2050. While mining is a global industry, its geographic concentration is a critical factor in the design of policies for sustainable economic development. Promoting environmentally sustainable regional mining value chains can provide new business opportunities for local firms and high-value-added jobs for local communities, while advancing in meeting the climate goals.