Future sustainability challenges require building public trust at both the local and societal levels. Significant attention has gone into understanding social license to operate (SLO) in company to community relationships, but the connection between industry and broader society is less well-defined. As the mining industry increasingly finds itself at the center of societal debates, the necessity to define societal SLO grows. And, as both national and supernational authorities attempt to meet climate and sustainability goals, understanding the key values and expectations needed to achieve SLO at both the local and societal levels is vital for success.