JOURNAL: Beyond carbon emissions reductions: Examining the co-benefits of industrial decarbonisation in the United Kingdom
Summary
Authors:
Abbas AbdulRafiu
Benjamin Sovacool
Marc Hudson
Mercedes Maroto-Valer
Clare Howard
University of Sussex
Heriot-Watt University
Aarhus University
Boston University
Beyond carbon emissions reductions: Examining the co-benefits of industrial decarbonisation in the United Kingdom
December 2025
This paper examines how industrial decarbonisation in the UK can deliver wider economic and social benefits alongside emissions reductions. It brings together evidence from over 60 IDRIC projects to identify where co-benefits arise, how they emerge, for whom they matter, and which technology–policy pairings enable them. The study highlights gains in environmental and health outcomes, energy cost and productivity, innovation, skills and jobs, and energy security. As much of the evidence comes from R&D and early deployment, many benefits are still anticipated rather than realised. The paper proposes improved reporting and targeted policy can help turn these opportunities into real outcomes.