Climate Impact of China’s Promotion of the Filling Mining Method: Bottom-Up Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Underground Metal Mines

China recently implemented a “Green Mine” policy focused on promoting the filling method, aiming to mitigate environmental impacts of underground mining; nevertheless, quantitative inventories have rarely been provided support or negate such promotion, especially from life-cycle perspective. Accordingly, this paper proposes bottom-up model for estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions metal mines using either caving methods. Two filling-based (Luohe and Longtangyan) two caving-based (Maogong Xiaowanggou) iron were studied; their direct GHG 0.576, 0.278, 2.130, 1.425 tons carbon dioxide equivalent per kiloton-extracted ore (t CO2 eq/kt), respectively. When indirect considered, results increased 17.386, 15.211, 5.554, 5.602 t eq/kt, In contrast popular belief, demonstrate that method can potentially raise overall emissions. Although projects generate less emissions, are transferred upstream sectors, cement power sectors. The additional electricity consumption in haulage backfilling stages is primarily responsible greater occurring projects. Some mitigation approaches suggested, as subsidence pit, industrial waste cementing materials, employing energy-efficient pumps, further developing hauling systems.