Designing Community Participation for Mine Closure and Social Transition

ABSTRACT As mining‐dependent countries confront the dual challenge of transitioning to low‐carbon economies and recovering from the COVID‐19 pandemic, the imperative to convert resource wealth into long‐term social and economic resilience has never been greater. In these contexts, sustainable development is now widely understood to be achievable only when participation occurs—when beneficiaries become active agents in shaping their futures. This demands more than technical closure planning or economic diversification. It requires inclusive, transparent, and justice‐based governance frameworks. Central to these frameworks is the design and implementation of meaningful community participation in mine closure and social transition. This article presents a structured approach to participatory design, focusing on the questions of who participates, in what, how, and when. Drawing from global practice and the authors' applied experience, we introduce practical guidance to help governments, companies, and communities navigate the complexities of mine closure engagement. To illustrate its application, we examine five examples of suitable participatory processes, each representing different stages, purposes, and levels of engagement. We argue that early, inclusive, and sustained participation enhances the legitimacy, durability, and social acceptance of closure outcomes, particularly when tailored to evolving local contexts. The article contributes to current debates on just transitions, post‐extractive futures, and sustainable development by offering both conceptual insights and practical guidance. It concludes with a call for stronger institutional support, particularly in politically constrained environments, and for companies to shift toward co‐created, community‐led closure planning as a foundation for equitable and sustainable regional transitions.