Local community opinions regarding the socio-environmental aspects of lignite surface mining: Experiences from central Poland |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, ul. Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;2. Department of Public Management and Social Sciences, University of Economics in Katowice, ul. 1 Maja 47, 40-287 Katowice, Poland;1. Chair of Marketing and Consumer Research, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 16, 85350 Freising, Germany;2. Chair of Marketing and Management of Biogenic Resources, University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, Straubing Center of Science, Petersgasse 18, 94315 Straubing, Germany;1. Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Dep. Intersectoral Energy Systems and Grid Integration, Heidenhofstrasse 2, 79110 Freiburg, Germany;2. ZPID – Leibniz Institute for Psychology Information, Universitätsring 15, 54296 Trier, Germany;1. San Diego Zoo Global Peru, Av. Peru F-10, Quispicanchis, Cusco, Peru;2. Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA-CSIC), Campo Santo de los Mártires 7, 1400 Cordoba, Spain;3. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027, USA;4. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK |
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| Abstract: | Surface lignite mining covers large areas and usually generates social conflicts which pose one of several energy security threats to certain states. Therefore, defining the social conditions determines the success of a mining project. Two communes were chosen for a public opinion study: Kleszczów, where the Bełchatów mine is located, and Złoczew, where a lignite deposit will soon be developed. The analysis shows, as opposed to other areas in Poland that have been projected for development, that both local communities are characterised by a high level of acceptance for lignite mining. In both cases, awareness about the profits was stronger than anxiety about the investment's negative effects. However, most inhabitants could not assess the mining company's diligence concerning its responsibility for mining damages as well as the diligence of external experts assessing the environmental impacts of excavation. Most respondents also could not assess if the legal regulations of public participation in the decision process were sufficient, but the negative opinions outweighed the positive ones. From the perspective of the energy policy, dialogue-type social communication is needed for every case of a new energy-mining project. Research on local public opinion should be the first step to opening up a social debate. |
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| Keywords: | Surface mining Lignite Public opinion |
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