Unpacking the “cultural costs” of social license to operate on environmental governance among ethnic minorities in China

This study explores the role of social license to operate (SLO) in environmental policy governance, focusing on the cultural complexities in ethnic minority regions. It argues that cultural costs, an often overlooked aspect of SLO, play a significant role in shaping community acceptance or resistance. Using a case study from a Yao ethnic community in Guangdong Province, China, the research highlights the unintended consequences of environmental policies, particularly relocation efforts. Findings reveal that such policies are likely to contribute to the erosion of traditional knowledge, the weakening of cultural identity, the restriction of cultural practices, and the undermining of indigenous governance, leading to distrust among the Yao people. This study emphasizes the importance of considering cultural costs in policy design to ensure environmental measures are both effective and culturally sensitive.