Going beyond decarbonisation: Key insights into delivering a just transition for steel and mining sectors

As the global decarbonisation effort has advanced, actors in the mining and steel sectors are under pressure to transform production processes, supply chains, and energy systems to meet climate goals. But alongside these changes lies an essential question: how do we ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is fair for the workers, communities, and regions that depend on these industries?

ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) set out to tackle this question in a joint project bringing together perspectives from across the mining and steel value chains. Together, in a recently published report, 'Driving just transitions in the steel and mining sectors', we explore how voluntary sustainability standards can help guide and support just transitions in two of the world’s most critical industries.

Putting people at the centre of the transition process

One of the strongest and most consistent key messages from the project and stakeholder engagement was the need to keep people at the centre of transition processes. Decarbonisation is often discussed in terms of technology, emissions targets, and industrial transformation. Yet transitions also reshape livelihoods, local economies, and social structures.

The report underscores that strong and inclusive planning is essential to avoid leaving workers and affected communities behind. This is further reflected in stakeholder perspectives, with one of the rights holders noting the disconnect between discussions around just transition and lived experience: “Just Transition is a confusing term. It does not reflect the realities we face.” Throughout the project, stakeholders repeatedly highlighted the importance of ensuring that transitions must not only be fast, but fair. Workers, Indigenous peoples, and affected communities must have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their futures.

This reinforced an important insight: “just transition is not only about managing economic change. It is also about justice, rights, and participation.”

The power of social dialogue

Another key learning from the project was the central role of social dialogue. Across interviews and workshops, participants emphasised the need for ongoing engagement between workers, communities, companies, governments, and other stakeholders.

Early and inclusive dialogue is particularly critical when major changes are being planned, such as mine closures, technological shifts, or new supply chains. As one stakeholder reflected during the project, standards can help by requiring processes that support “stakeholder engagement and planning,” rather than defining rigid requirements.

Social dialogue is therefore not simply a consultation exercise. It involves sharing information, building capacity among stakeholders, and creating spaces where different perspectives can meaningfully shape decisions.

Voluntary sustainability standards can play an important role by creating frameworks that encourage transparency, accountability, and structured engagement.

One of the central questions of the project was how standards systems such as ResponsibleSteel and IRMA can contribute to just transitions in practice.

The Just Transition Framework for Voluntary Sustainability Standards

The focus of this project was the question of how VSSs such as ResponsibleSteel and IRMA can best contribute to driving just transitions in practice.

The project confirmed that many elements of existing standards already address issues relevant to just transition, including human rights due diligence, occupational health and safety, grievance mechanisms, and environmental management. At the same time, the project highlighted areas where further development may be needed. These include supporting worker retraining and skills development, strengthening value-chain-wide due diligence, and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of the low-carbon transition.

To help understand and identify the key elements for a just transition, the project undertook a literature review, mapping exercises of existing standards, key informant interviews, and two in-person workshops. Each activity provided valuable insights and information, which together formed the foundation of a framework that defines principles related to human rights, social equity, inclusive governance, and protections for workers and communities.

Significantly, the framework is not intended to be prescriptive or define minimum requirements. Instead, it serves as a reference point to help VSSs integrate just transition considerations in a way that reflects and is shaped by the realities of each region, industry, and community.

The value of collaboration

Transitions in mining and steel do not happen in isolation. They unfold across interconnected supply chains, regulatory systems, and communities. As a result, no single actor can drive meaningful progress alone.

Achieving a just transition requires coordination between many different actors, including companies, workers and unions, governments, civil society, investors, and standards systems. Collaboration between standards organisations themselves can also play an important role by aligning approaches, sharing knowledge, and creating stronger incentives for responsible practices across industries.

The concept of just transition continues to evolve. While there is growing recognition of its importance across governments, industries, and civil society, there is still uncertainty about what implementation looks like in practice and what responsibilities different actors should carry.

This project represents a strong joint effort with key stakeholders and an important step toward understanding how voluntary sustainability standards can contribute to that conversation.

Achieving just transitions will require sustained commitment, continuous learning, and inclusive engagement. Standards alone cannot deliver just transitions, but they can provide practical tools and shared frameworks that help stakeholders navigate complex transitions.

For ResponsibleSteel and IRMA, this work reaffirms our shared commitment to ensuring that the transformation of heavy industries supports not only climate goals, but also fairness, dignity, and opportunity for the workers and communities most affected by change.

Read ResponsibleSteel's and IRMA's joint report, 'Driving just transitions in the mining and steel sectors' here.

This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and UK International Development.