The Economic and Environmental Effects of Coal Mining: South Africa

Abstract

South Africa is a country that combines considerable coal mines, coal reserves and natural resources, environmental issues, and water scarcity. Increasing concerns with the carbon footprint and carbon dioxide emissions worldwide have led to a growing number of scholars studying the coal mining field. According to the research, the influences of coal mining in South Africa are dissected. The positive influence is that coal mining improves the South African economy, expressive of impacts on export, domestic consumption, GDP, and employment. However, coal mining damages the environment, evidently in water and air, which harms people’s and animals’ health. Depending on the backgrounds and facts of South Africa, the environmental issues should be given more consideration because they may threaten South Africa in the long term. Fortunately, two environmental policies, including damage land tax (DLT) and environmental bonds, are referred to solve the issue brought about by coal mining. Therefore, the economic effects of coal mining are the benefits for South Africa; the environmental influences are the cost.