Repurposing Coal Mining Lands for a Just Transition

The present paper is the first attempt toprovide a new blueprint for proactivelyaddressing coal mining lands withina Just Transition framework. It arguesthat traditional approaches to mine landremediation can only go so far in offeringcoal transitioning communities with thenatural capital badly needed for economicdiversification. Rather, the present paperproposes that a new approach to treatingpost-mining lands would have the objectiveof repurposing: putting former mininglands into future use states that offerinvestment and public use opportunities forprivate sector and citizens alike. Such aninnovative approach, as developed and nowbeing piloted by the World Bank in severalcoal transitioning countries, relies not onlyon new methods and tools for assessinglands and planning their use; it equallyrequires thinking differently about howthe process of mining land repurposing isinstitutionally managed. Furthermore, bythinking very differently about the future useof mining lands and establishing structuresto effectively govern these transformativeprocesses, we can begin to unlock newfinancial solutions