Author(s)

Lina Xie^*, Dirk van Zyl

The Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Climate change is a growing concern with each of the last three decades being successively warmer than preceding decades. Mine wastes are mandatory required to be reclaimed after mine operation due to their high risks of contaminating environment and huge volumes occupying large useable land resources. However, most traditional mine reclamation plans are designed with an assumption of unchanged, consistent conditions of environment, climate and hydrology conditions, which may not work properly under the global climate change. This paper discussed the previously ignored problem that is how mine reclamation design should effectively respond to climate change. Through reviewing the current responding strategy to the climate change during mine reclamation and closure, this mini review was structured, and the opinion is concluded that the more active the designers consider the factors of climate change, the more manageable, predictable and sustainable the reclaimed ecosystem and landscape are. Nature-based solutions can act as the general guidelines when considering climate change with mine reclamation, and the six-step framework aims more specifically on mine reclamation. The two methods can work together to help designers and regulators to effectively respond to climate change when planning mine reclamation and closure.

Climate Change, Mine Reclamation, Mine Closure, Nature-Based Solutions, Six-Step Framework

Xie, L. and van Zyl, D. (2022) How Should Mine Reclamation Design Effectively Respond to Climate Change? A Mini Review Opinion. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 10, 117-125. doi: 10.4236/gep.2022.1012009.