The mining industry is directly or indirectly linked to several SDG goals. These include for example goals N° 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 15.

The economic, social, and ecological sustainability of mining is debated in Finland, in the EU and around the world. In the report Perspectives on sustainable mining in Finland this topic is approached from the following perspectives: the connection between sustainable mining and central government finances, objectives and implementation of Finland’s mining policy, increasing the added value of battery minerals and battery industry, circular economy solutions for mining operations, local acceptance of mining operations (social licence to operate, SLO), and the management of environmental risks arising from abandoned and closed mines.

Even though mining is a commercial activity, it is connected with the state and central government finances in many ways. Environmental protection and ecologically sustainable mining have also been major themes in Government Programmes in the 2010s. The Finnish Mineral Strategy published in 2010 and the Sustainable Extractive Industries Action Plan presented in 2013 are the two key strategies guiding Finland’s mining and mineral policy. The Sustainable Mining Network and the mining responsibility system created by it were established on the basis of the recommendations set out in the Sustainable Extractive Industries Action Plan. Mining sector actors have been mostly satisfied with the networked activities and the responsibility system. On the other hand, it seems that the 2010 Mineral Strategy and the Sustainable Extractive Industries Action Plan of 2013 do not otherwise necessarily guide the activities anymore. In fact, the question arises whether these strategies should be updated or overhauled. National and various EU-level strategies could also be coordinated with each other more effectively.

Finland presented its national battery strategy in early 2021. Batteries play a key role in the achievement of climate targets. Finland has also worked to improve the added value of battery minerals and battery industry. The key strategic objective of the state-owned Finnish Minerals Group is to develop an electric car battery value chain in Finland.

Circular economy solutions for the mining sector can be used to implement circular economy policy objectives. However, most of the circular economy solutions are still on a trial basis. The problem is to make these solutions more widely and systematically available.

In order to be commercially successful, a mining company must gain the acceptance of the local community (social licence to operate, SLO).  Gaining local acceptance is not always a straightforward matter. There may be major differences between operating practices of mining companies and they sometimes fail to receive the social licence to operate.

In the past, many Finnish mines were abandoned and closed using methods that do not meet today’s environmental and safety standards. In Finland, the state of closed and abandoned extractive waste sites has been examined in the KAJAK projects since the 2010s. A number of projects to reform the environmental liability legislation applicable to mining operations are also under way.

This is not an audit report. Instead, it is a landscape review that examines sustainable mining from many different perspectives. The report therefore does not present audit recommendations. However, the last subsection of each chapter of the report discusses opportunities for development.

Written material was used as sources and a large number of interviews with mining and mineral industry experts were carried out. Mining companies and experts also provided the NAOF with valuable information in writing. Written material was used as sources and a large number of interviews with mining and mineral industry experts were carried out. Mining companies and experts also provided the NAOF with valuable information in writing. Written material was used as sources and a large number of interviews with mining and mineral industry experts were carried out. Mining companies and experts also provided the NAOF with valuable information in writing.

Deutsch — Prüfung des ESF-Programms Berufliche Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung befördern (BBNE)

Das Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMU)  finanziert seit 2015 mit Mitteln des Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF) sowie mit nationalen Mitteln das Programm "Berufliche Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BBNE)“. Das Programm unterstützt Aktivitäten zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit im Zusammenhang mit der Berufsbildung junger Menschen.

Der Bundesrechnungshof hat die Ausgestaltung und Umsetzung des Programms in der ersten Förderrunde von 2015 bis 2018 geprüft.

English — Audit of the ESF federal programme "Promoting vocational education for sustainable development"

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (Ministry) has drawn on funds of the European Social Fund (ESF) and the federal budget to finance the programme for “Promoting vocational education for sustainable development” since 2015. The programme is designed for young people and serves to promote vocational training on sustainability.

We studied how the programme was shaped and run in the first 2015-2018 programme period.

Deutsch — Prüfung des ESF-Programms Berufliche Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung befördern (BBNE)

1. Das BMU muss die Zielerreichung des Programms auf Grundlage qualitativer Indikatoren messen, um eine wirksame Erfolgskontrolle gewährleisten zu können.
2. Es hat sicherzustellen, dass im Zuwendungsverfahren keine neuen, allgemeinverbindlichen Regelungen in Kraft gesetzt oder von Grundsatzregelungen abweichende Einzelfallentscheidungen getroffen werden, die erhebliche finanzielle Auswirkungen haben können.
3. Es muss stärker darauf achten, dass die vergaberechtlichen Vorschriften eingehalten werden, um die Transparenz der Vergabeverfahren und die Wirtschaftlichkeit der Auftragsvergaben sicherzustellen.
4. Das BMU muss zukünftig die Einhaltung der zuwendungsrechtlichen Vorschriften durch die beauftragte Behörde stärker überwachen und etwaige Rückforderungsansprüche gegenüber Zuwendungsempfängern konsequenter verfolgen.

English — Audit of the ESF federal programme "Promoting vocational education for sustainable development"

1. The Ministry has the task to ensure effective programme evaluation. To do so it relies on qualitative indicators for assessing target achievement.
2. The Ministry needs to ensure that no new mandatory provisions take effect, while a grant procedure is underway and that no major spending decisions that deviate from basic rules in place must be made on a case-by-case basis.
3. The Ministry needs to place more focus on  compliance with federal procurement regulations to ensure transparency and value for money of contract awarding.
4. In the future, the Ministry needs to step up efforts to oversee its subordinate offices' compliance with federal contract awarding regulations, and to pursue claims for reimbursement against grant recipients more consistently.

Deutsch — Prüfung des ESF-Programms Berufliche Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung befördern (BBNE)

Stichprobenauswahl von Projekten, Einsichtnahme in die Projektunterlagen, Interviews

English — Audit of the ESF federal programme "Promoting vocational education for sustainable development"

Sample of projects; study of project files; interviews