This project sought to understand the social impacts of the steel and mining industries’ transition to net-zero carbon emissions and the potential role of independent, multi-stakeholder governed systems in making that transition socially responsible.
Decarbonisation of the steel and mining industries will generate massive technological, geographical, economic, and social changes, but not all of them will be positive. For example, newer low-emissions technologies to make iron and steel will likely require far fewer workers. Independent, multi-stakeholder systems can play a role in reducing the negative social impacts of changes in these industries and help protect those most vulnerable.
This project sought a deeper understanding of the issues, to map how standards are addressing these issues globally, identify critical gaps, and establish opportunities for future work.
A new report published in March 2026 aims to capture emerging expectations, highlight areas of alignment and disagreements, and provide a practical foundation for integrating just transition considerations into standards and assurance systems.
