European Sustainable Development Indicators for Mineral Resources at the National Level as Support Tool for Decision-Making and International Comparison

Abstract

Mineral resources are materials, extracted from the Earth’s crust. Their extraction and use also cause negative environmental and social impacts. That is why the correct balance between benefits and costs is compulsory. It can be achieved with improved information– the indicators. The Working Group for Sustainable Development Indicators, which operates within the European Commission, has proposed two groups of sustainable development indicators. The first group incorporates indicators on the company level; the second one, which are described in article, are the state level indicators. Before the sustainable development indicators are published, they must be tested and evaluated. The purpose of presented work is the evaluation of sustainable development indicators for the mineral resources supply sector within EU in the case study for the Republic of Slovenia. In the paper the expert opinion and evaluation for all indicators is given with the emphasis on the availability and existence of data.The indicators are used by a wide interest group, because they contain different types of data: economic, social and environmental. For example: 93,6% of all application forms for mineral resources extraction are granted, in Slovenia we use between 6,01 in 10,46 tonnes of mineral resources per person per year, the mining sector represents 0,59% of total GDP in Slovenia, 44 extraction localities (of 166 all together) are inside NATURA 2000 protected zones etc. After indicator evaluation and implementation will be possible to directly compare other EU member states’ situation in minerals supply sector. Key words: sustainable development, mineral resources, indicators