It is no news that mining operations have massive surface footprints and severe impacts on local flora and fauna. They are quite commonly energy-intense, have high greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints, and can become immense environmental liabilities to the public if managed poorly. Additionally, mining companies may fail to foster mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities and may fail to respect the concerns and needs of the latter, which can lead to tensions and conflicts and contributes to the industry’s poor reputation. For instance, the destruction of a sacred aboriginal cave by Rio Tinto (2020) represents one of the most recent major incidents that affected the industry’s reputation worldwide.
