1657 European companies, EU countries and international organizations plan, fund and systematically develop technologies and practices for more efficient use of resources. An example is the EU Circular Economy initiative and various calls under Horizon 2020. A good example of Green Mining can be the R&D Green Mining Program, which was launched in 2011 by the Finnish Innovation Fund based on the strategy for the exploitation of mineral resources in Finland [17] (see Figure 9.). Figure 9 - Finland’s Green Mining concept [17] With the slogan "Finland, the leader in green mining 2020", the five-year program initiated the development of green technologies and innovations in various areas of green mining. The R&D program, which took place in the period 2011-2016, had a budget of EUR 115 million and included 98 projects implemented by 175 partners from the sector of large, small or medium-sized enterprises and the services sector, research institutes and universities in Finland and the world. The projects were aimed at improving all areas of the concept of green mining and focused on two main themes (see Figure 9.): Research on mineral resources (new technologies for mineral resources research, geomodels and management of geodata, high-tech metal mineral resources, enrichment /processing and use of mining waste and reagent) and Intelligent Mining or Mining with Minimal Environment Impact or Invisible Mining (innovative processes, digitization, chemical / biological techniques, technological water management). The results of the Finnish program and the developed innovations can be a bright example and a model for other countries as well as the preparation of the new Slovenian green urban mining program in a more rational and efficient use of resources, more responsible use of water, waste management, development of new techniques for exploring mineral resources, social issues in exploitation, improvement of measurement techniques and the possibility of introducing new services and organizational practices for the exploitation of mineral and energy raw materials. The Slovenian mining industry has largely failed to convince people of its necessity for future society development. Governments, investors, and societies will increasingly difficult to tolerate in the future unsustainable behaviour of mining companies. The mining industry has to solve the increasing
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