Bezpieczeństwo Pracy i Ochrona Środowiska w Górnictwie Number 03/2020

The Sächsisches Oberbergamt (State Mining Authority of Saxony), as the specialist and enforcement authority of the Free State of Saxony, is the executing body of the state mining authority in this industry in the state. As such, it is responsible for the foundation, management and termination of mining exploration, extraction and processing plants. The role of the State Mining Authority of Saxony does not only focus on the approval of operating plans and its accordance to the Federal Mining Act, but also includes the execution of mining planning approval procedures pursuant to Section 52 subparagraph 2a of the Federal Mining Act, where a mining scheme requires an environmental impact assessment. The article illustrates first the legal bases of the environmental impact assessment, follows with the explanation of how the obligation to perform an environmental impact assessment is determined and provides the description of the process of the approval procedure including the environmental impact assessment itself. At the end it explains the responsibility regarding implementation of environmental impact assessment and admission of operation plans.

Setting and communicating ambitious goals – even challenges, reporting effects achieved as well as sharing ideas drive pro-climate activity on a global scale. Sooner or later we will have to join and take action on climate change, too. Without specific actions in business strategies and models, it may be impossible to take advantage of the opportunities that have arisen. The European Commission's guidelines for reporting on non-financial information in relation to the climate not only encourage, but also help in practical way to prepare for a change in the way of thinking about the business. We should be aware that it is a derivative of actions taken by market leaders who set global trends. On the occasion of transformation, they not only strengthen their positive image, promote corporate social responsibility, but also achieve economic success. The newly defined business models that they are gradually implementing, assume a continuous improvement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a significant increase in the use of renewable energy and further improvement of energy efficiency throughout the entire value chain. The savings, which are already valued in billions of euros, should be an inspiration for those who still with uncertainty and lack of conviction approach better understanding of their impact on the climate, not to mention disclosing this information to the market. It is up to the managers to decide whether they want to stand in line with the best or just watch how they strengthen their market position.

O budowie  warszawskiego metra z Ryszardem Orłowskim rozmawia Klaudiusz Maniak.