Applying Procedural Justice in NIMBY Infrastructure Projects

A recent study published in Buildings has brought renewed academic attention to the importance of procedural justice in gaining and sustaining a Social License to Operate (SLO) for infrastructure projects that often face strong local resistance—commonly referred to as NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) projects. These include controversial developments such as waste incineration plants, nuclear facilities, and large-scale transportation infrastructure. Using structural equation modeling, the researchers analyzed public responses across several case studies, finding that transparent, respectful, and inclusive decision-making processes significantly increased public trust and willingness to accept these projects. This challenges the assumption that opposition is purely about the physical risks or environmental consequences—showing instead that how decisions are made can matter just as much as what decisions are made.