122 initiatives. The mining sector is particularly associated with SDGs focused on employment (SDG 8), infrastructure and innovation (SDG 9), and climate action (SDG 13). Despite widespread reference to the SDGs, evidence from mining and other resource-intensive sectors suggests that their application often remains confined to reporting and high-level commitments, exerting limited influence on operational planning or project-level decision-making (Islam et al., 2026). The practical value of the SDGs depends on translating them into concrete actions and decisions at the project level. Addressing this implementation gap remains a significant challenge for industry practitioners. A clear understanding of SDG localization is necessary to address this challenge. Localization involves translating global sustainability goals into site-specific objectives, indicators, and actions that reflect the environmental, social, economic, and governance contexts of individual mining projects and their surrounding communities. Instead of applying the SDGs as universal benchmarks, localization prioritizes local baselines, context-specific priorities, and stakeholder-defined concerns, including those of local and Indigenous communities (Korah et al., 2019; Ruban & Yashalova, 2023). Empirical studies demonstrate that sustainability outcomes vary significantly across locations. Differences in water availability, ecosystem sensitivity, regulatory enforcement, and community livelihoods result in the same mining activity producing distinct impacts at different sites (Islam et al., 2026; Mancini & Sala, 2018). As mining impacts are highly localized, national or global indicators frequently fail to capture conditions at the mine-site level (Izquierdo et al., 2025; Selmier & NewenhamKahindi, 2021). Without adaptation, the broad objectives of the 2030 Agenda may not yield meaningful local outcomes. In practice, SDG localization requires moving beyond top-down reporting to the implementation and monitoring of specific targets at the mine site. This process involves defining how goals such as water efficiency, decent work, or land restoration are applied, measured, and evaluated using indicators that reflect local realities rather than global averages (Korah et al., 2019, 2019). Considering the long-term environmental and social legacies of mining, localization is essential for effective sustainability management and informed decision-making. Effective implementation of SDG localization transforms sustainability from a mere reporting requirement into a source of value for mining projects. Adapting global goals to sitespecific actions enables companies to align business objectives with local environmental and social contexts, thereby generating shared value for both operators and host communities. From a strategic perspective, localized assessment facilitates the identification of environmental and social risk hotspots, supporting proactive mitigation and regulatory preparedness. Site-specific analysis enables companies to anticipate risks such as water stress, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and community opposition, thereby enhancing long-term project resilience. Incorporating SDGs into business strategy can also improve access to responsible financing and alignment with investor expectations (Nilashi et al., 2024; Perdeli Demirkan et al., 2021a). Localization further reinforces the social license to operate. Aligning sustainability initiatives with local priorities, including employment, skills development, water access, and community infrastructure, fosters trust and legitimacy while reducing the potential for conflict (Pedro et al., 2017; Perdeli Demirkan et al., 2021a). Early, transparent stakeholder engagement helps resolve
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