Greening the mines: Managing efficiency, environmental impact, and ecology in Chinese mining regions

This research aims to devise a statistically sound method for evaluating the efficacy of green development in the mining industry across various Chinese regions while keeping environmental challenges and ecological conservation in view to identify potential challenges and opportunities for implementing green growth initiatives in the mining industry. A three-stage network structure is utilized for evaluation. By employing a dynamic network framework utilizing the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) method, the research explores the progress of green development in the mining sector across 21 Chinese regions from 2005 to 2022. The Malmquist index examines the changing trends and internal efficiency of green development in mining. The outcomes suggest that productivity levels decreased initially in most provinces before improving over time. The efficiency of the overall process is closely linked to the enhancement of ecological efficiency, which is a direct outcome of adopting sustainable mining practices. Disparities in the pace and extent of environmentally friendly economic development are evident among provinces, with some experiencing annual development rates exceeding 25 %. Eastern regions like Hubei, Fujian, and Shandong show promising trends and opportunities. However, challenges persist in the Northeast and Xinjiang provinces, where inefficiencies may be recognized in several sub-processes. • A three-stage dynamic network SBM model is proposed to evaluate green mining development in 21 Chinese regions (2005–2022). • Productivity initially declined but later improved, underscoring sustainable mining practices for better ecological efficiency. • Notable regional disparities are discovered, with some provinces achieving green economic growth rates exceeding 25% annually. • Eastern regions showed promising green growth; Northeast and Xinjiang faced ongoing sustainability challenges and inefficiencies. • Continuous monitoring and tailored policies are needed to tackle regional gaps and foster green growth in the mining sector.