From Acceptance to Equity: The Evolving Meaning of Social License in 2025

As of May 2025, the Social License to Operate (SLO) is undergoing a significant redefinition, evolving from a passive notion of community acceptance into a proactive, participatory standard rooted in legitimacy, transparency, and equitable benefit-sharing. Amid rising global demands for justice, sustainability, and inclusive development, industries in mining, energy, and infrastructure are being pushed to rethink how they engage with local populations. The SLO, once treated as a reputational tool or peripheral objective, is now emerging as a core condition for long-term project success—particularly as pressure mounts for a just and equitable energy transition.