This paper examines how people in local communities across England, Scotland and Wales understand and experience industrial decarbonisation, and what a “just transition” means to them. Drawing on interviews, focus groups, observations and survey data from both local clusters and the wider UK public, this study highlights five recurring themes: strong attachments to place and local identity, powerful experiences of past injustice, concerns about specific technologies, low trust and limited awareness, and worries about policy and governance. By exploring these perspectives, the paper shows how communities view net-zero transitions and how their views compare with national attitudes.