106 - The International Resource Journal

FEBRUARY 2013 The International Resource Journal63“The importance of socialresponsibility and the need tobuild in aspects of sustainability isbecoming known [to the Chinese] asthe best way to manage a previouslyunrecognised form of risk. They arelearning and catching up fast. Socialsustainability is now part of theirvocabulary”Perhaps the most interesting move has beento take the concept of the Social License to Operateinto China itself. Late in 2012, Airong Truffet,a PhD student studying in Brisbane, translatedsome of the key, peer-reviewed publications onthe Social License to Operate into Chinese withthe express intention of increasing awarenessof the concept in her home country. By now, thepapers may well have been re-published in Chinaas there was serious talk during November andDecember about how they could best be madewidely available to managers and decision makersin the country.So for the Chinese, the importance of socialresponsibility and the need to build in aspects ofsustainability is becoming known as the best wayto manage a previously unrecognised form ofrisk. They are learning and catching up fast. Socialsustainability is now part of their vocabularytoo, which is good news for everyone involved inthe resource sectors.Given the speed of acceptance and understandingof the issues by the Chinese, it would notbe a surprise to see one of their companies emergeas a global leader in socially responsible mine developmentsometime in the near future.Ian Thomson is a Principal and Co-Founderof On Common Ground Consultants Inc., aninternational consultancy specialising in enhancingsocial performance and socially sustainableoutcomes for the global resource sector.WWW. ONCOMMONGROUND.CAIAN@ONCOMMONGROUND.CA