By surveying nearly 5,000 Canadians, we found that national trust in the mining industry is partly driven by confidence that local communities can hold mining companies accountable. When citizens believe communities closest to mining activity have voice and agency, trust in the industry increases nationally.
Our work shows that building trust with communities leads to greater acceptance (or social licence) – and building trust is, in part, dependent on how comfortable we are being vulnerable with communities (and knowing they will not take advantage of that to hurt you).
By surveying nearly 5,000 Canadians, we found that national trust in the mining industry is partly driven by confidence that local communities can hold mining companies accountable. When citizens believe communities closest to mining activity have voice and agency, trust in the industry increases nationally.