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The Triple Bottom Line and Progress toward Ecological Sustainable Development: Australia’s Coal Mining Industry as a Case Study

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  • Aleta Lederwasch

    (Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia)

  • Pierre Mukheibir

    (Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia)

Abstract

A common goal shared by the world is to achieve well-being for the planet—for this generation and generations to come. The world formalized this common goal when it accepted the concept of ecological sustainable development (ESD) at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and through the adoption of the United Nation’s Agenda 21. This paper explores the capacity of New South Wales’ planning system to deliver on this shared goal. It does this through an evaluation of the triple bottom line (TBL), as an impact assessment framework, in the context of coal mine development proposals. The evaluation is performed against ESD principles, and draws from the experience of the authors in reviewing a recent coalmine expansion application in New South Wales, Australia. During this review the authors encountered opportunities to improve the impact assessment process. The opportunities identified relate to the process of robust and consistent drawing of impact boundaries and selection of scales (geographic and temporal), in which to conduct an impact assessment. The findings are significant, as they offer a path toward greater discussion around, and realization of, opportunities for achieving development in each TBL domain, i.e. , social, environmental and economic.

Suggested Citation

  • Aleta Lederwasch & Pierre Mukheibir, 2013. "The Triple Bottom Line and Progress toward Ecological Sustainable Development: Australia’s Coal Mining Industry as a Case Study," Resources, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:2:y:2013:i:1:p:26-38:d:24423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Stefan Hajkowicz & Mike Young & Darla Hatton MacDonald, 2000. "Supporting Decisions: Understanding natural resource management assessment techniques," Natural Resource Management Economics 00_003, Policy and Economic Research Unit, CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide, Australia.
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    4. Frank Vanclay, 2004. "The Triple Bottom Line And Impact Assessment: How Do Tbl, Eia, Sia, Sea And Ems Relate To Each Other?," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(03), pages 265-288.
    5. Béatrice Labonne, 1999. "The mining industry and the community: joining forces for sustainable social development," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 23(4), pages 315-322, November.
    6. Prno, Jason & Scott Slocombe, D., 2012. "Exploring the origins of ‘social license to operate’ in the mining sector: Perspectives from governance and sustainability theories," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 346-357.
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    Cited by:

    1. Massaro, L. & Calvimontes, J. & Ferreira, L.C. & de Theije, M., 2022. "Balancing economic development and environmental responsibility: Perceptions from communities of garimpeiros in the Brazilian Amazon," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Elisabete Nogueira & Sofia Gomes & João M. Lopes, 2022. "The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, May.

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