Adom, S.; Matsui, K. Investigating Barriers to Low-Carbon Policy Implementation among Mining Companies in Ghana. Sustainability2024, 16, 1798.
Adom, S.; Matsui, K. Investigating Barriers to Low-Carbon Policy Implementation among Mining Companies in Ghana. Sustainability 2024, 16, 1798.
Adom, S.; Matsui, K. Investigating Barriers to Low-Carbon Policy Implementation among Mining Companies in Ghana. Sustainability2024, 16, 1798.
Adom, S.; Matsui, K. Investigating Barriers to Low-Carbon Policy Implementation among Mining Companies in Ghana. Sustainability 2024, 16, 1798.
Abstract
Abstract: Efforts for carbon emission reduction have been identified as a major climate change mitigation target in the Paris Agreement. The 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change highlighted the worldwide effort for cleaner and greener mining, urging the mineral industry to embrace greener operational emissions reduction technologies and strategies. Ghana pledged at the Paris Conference to reduce CO2 emissions by 15% and increase renewable energy share to 10% of the national energy mix. Here the fundamental question is how Ghana’s mining industry can contribute to CO2 emission reduction efforts. This paper investigates barriers to low-carbon emission policy implementation among mining companies in Ghana. The questionnaire survey was conducted among Ghana’s four large-scale gold mining companies. As the sample number of available companies is limited, we used a descriptive analysis to assess the responses. The results show that the companies expressed widely different ways to respond to the issues of cost, a government policy/regulations for carbon emission reduction, and the adoption/acquisition of low-carbon technologies. Those companies that are relatively less prepared for this endeavor emphasized the uncertainties of securing sufficient energy in case of using low-carbon technologies. They also expressed a need for more trained workers to handle low-carbon technologies. All companies agreed with a expected high cost of adopting low-carbon options. There was a communication gap with the relevant government ministry about low-carbon mining options where the government should be able to facilitate the involvement of othe low technology providers, such as solar PV installation.
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Sustainable Science and Technology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
