Environmental risk, equity, and social acceptance: A multidimensional analysis of mining activities in Türkiye

Abstract

The study adopts a multidimensional approach to examine the environmental risk perceptions, assessments of economic contribution, trust in governance processes, and future-oriented behaviors of people living near mining activities in Bart & imath;n, T & uuml;rkiye. Data were collected through structured household surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, binary logistic regression, and k-means cluster analysis. Results reveal that respondents perceive environmental risks as significantly higher and the economic benefit associated with mining activities as comparatively lower. Trust in governance processes is low and most respondents desire greater participation in those processes. The logistic regression analysis revealed that environmental risk perception is the most significant factor affecting migration intentions. Three distinct attitudinal profiles were identified by cluster analysis, with social acceptance being the lowest and migration intention the highest among those with high-risk perception and low governance trust. These findings suggest that the economic arguments commonly used to justify social legitimacy for mining projects are insufficient on their own. Instead, social acceptance should be grounded in robust environmental risk oversight, transparent governance, and meaningful involvement in decision-making. By focusing on these interconnected dimensions, the paper offers empirically grounded insights that can inform the design of environmentally and socially responsible mining policy frameworks.