ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector – The state of play on mobilising spatial datasets for decision making

The global energy transition will drive increased demand for a broad range of mined minerals. Australia is well positioned to support the global energy transition, given its mature mining sector and rich and diverse mineral resources. The potential growth in the mining sector represents an economic opportunity, however, navigating the associated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks remains a challenge. A step towards improved ESG credentials across the Australian mining sector is for mine developers, regulators, communities, investors and other industry stakeholders to be capable of integrating diverse types of ESG data into decision-making processes. This paper establishes the foundations for applying ESG mapping, a research technique that mobilises spatial data to analyse and compare extractive locations in terms of factors relevant to mining and exploration, at the scale of Australia. To do so, the paper first critically reviews 33 spatial ESG datasets available at national scale across six main themes: people, land uses, water resources, extreme events, nature conservation, and governance. The paper then provides two proof-of-concept applications of ESG mapping to the Australian mining context and draws on these preliminary applications to propose a program of research aiming to fully utilise this technique to inform decision makers.