TOOLKIT: Towards Fair Net Zero UK Industrial Clusters: Place-based just transition strategies for communities, governments, and industries
Summary
Authors:
Huei-Ling Lai
Patrick Devine-Wright
Jo Hamilton
Sarah Mander
Imogen Rattle
Abigail Martin
Peter Taylor
Diarmaid Clery
Stacia Ryder
University of Exeter
University of Manchester
University of Leeds
Stanford University
University of Sussex
Utah State University
Towards Fair Net Zero UK Industrial Clusters: Place-based just transition strategies for communities, governments, and industries
March 2025
This toolkit introduces a framework that seeks to provide guiding principles that support the delivery of a place-based just transition in industrial clusters. The UK Government aims to create the world’s first net-zero industrial cluster by 2040, seeing this as an opportunity to level up key industrial regions. However, without meaningful local involvement and sufficient attention to other social dimensions (e.g. sense of place, broader social needs), industrial decarbonisation could worsen existing inequalities, inviting resistance, and jeopardising the success of decarbonisation plans. The framework introduced in this toolkit provides practical guidance for policymakers and industry to ensure a fair transition, fostering collaboration between industry, government, and local communities while supporting long-term sustainability goals.
This project was funded by IDRIC (under EPSRC award number: EP/V027050/1). The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of IDRIC. Neither IDRIC nor EPSRC can be held responsible for them.