ResponsibleSteel

Thumbnail of just transition webinarEnergy Transition

Reflections on the Webinar: How Steel and Mining Standards Can Support a Just Transition

16 September 2025By Davidzo Muchawaya

The urgency to decarbonize industries like mining and steel is stronger than ever. Around the world, governments, businesses, and investors are racing to reduce emissions and meet climate targets. But amid this urgency, there is an equally important question; how do we make sure that the communities and workers most affected by these transitions are not left behind? For workers, communities, and Indigenous Peoples, the shift to low-carbon economies can bring uncertainty as well as opportunity. Without deliberate action, there’s a real risk that many will be left behind, displaced by job losses, or burdened by the impacts of change without sharing in the benefits.

This is where Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs) like IRMA’s Standard for Responsible Mining play an essential role. They help translate “just transition” into concrete action by setting clear expectations and guidance for companies, creating accountability mechanisms that allow workers and communities to raise concerns and seek remedies, and providing support to protect the rights and livelihoods of those most affected. In doing so, VSSs help ensure that transitions are not only fast but also center justice at the heart of climate targets.

Earlier this month, IRMA and ResponsibleSteel co-hosted a webinar to share the findings of our joint project on how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can support just transition in the mining and steel sectors.

The project drew on an extensive literature review, more than 30 in-depth interviews, and two multi-stakeholder workshops in Johannesburg and Brussels. Perspectives came from organized labour, affected communities, Indigenous Rights Holders, mining companies, steelmakers, civil society, and supply chain actors.

Setting the stage

ResponsibleSteel CEO Annie Heaton opened the webinar with a reminder of the urgency of the moment. Decarbonisation, automation, and digitalisation are reshaping industries at speed, but workers and communities risk being left behind:

“This isn’t just about how fast we hit climate targets,” she said. “It’s about how well we protect workers, communities, and the environment along the way.”

IRMA’s Executive Director, Amy Boulanger, followed with a reminder of our shared reliance on mining:

“Every phone, car, and building depends on it,” she said. “The question is: how do we create value for responsibility, not just extraction? There is no supply chain security without community consent.”

What we heard from stakeholders

The engagement process brought a diverse range of perspectives, but several clear themes stood out:

Justice is the foundation, not an add-on. Justice must sit at the heart of transitions.
Social dialogue must be meaningful. Too often, workers and communities are consulted too late, with little influence on outcomes.
Reskilling must connect to real opportunities. As one labour representative put it: “Reskilling is the headline, but redeployment is the lifeline.”
Indigenous Peoples must be partners. Rights to self-determination and Free, Prior and Informed Consent must be respected in practice, not just principle.

We also heard about “tick-box” stakeholder engagement and training programmes that fail to lead to decent work. Indigenous Rights Holders in particular challenged the framing of just transition:

“Our way of life is already sustainable, yet we carry the heaviest burdens.”

A framework for action

To translate these insights into practice, IRMA and ResponsibleSteel developed a framework of nine principles and 52 criteria, structured around four pillars: rights and equity, procedural justice, distributive justice, and restorative justice.

Divergent views

Not all questions were resolved. There was significant debate on whether VSSs should define “just transition” and whether historical reparations should be part of the agenda. Some stakeholders argued that justice cannot be separated from history, while others cautioned that reparations could stretch standards beyond their mandate. What is clear is that these tensions cannot be ignored by VSSs, and that transparency and context-specific approaches are essential.

Recommendations for VSSs

The project also identified five priority recommendations for voluntary sustainability standards:

Ensure transparent, inclusive governance.
Co-develop principles and requirements with affected communities, workers, Indigenous Rights Holders, civil society, and business.
Provide practical implementation support to companies.
Strengthen assurance systems so that audits reflect the lived realities of workers and affected communities.
Collaboration with governments, peer standards, labour, and civil society on just transition is key.

For IRMA, the next steps are clear:

Our Standard revision is currently underway, with public comment open until 22 October. As part of this process, we are engaging Expert Advisors on Climate Action to carry the just transition work forward. We will also continue strengthening the Standard in direct response to the challenges raised by workers, communities, Indigenous Rights Holders, and other stakeholders. In addition, new auditor training is being developed to ensure that the lived realities of workers and communities are fully reflected in assurance.

For ResponsibleSteel, the focus is on integrating just transition into its standard revision through a multi-stakeholder working group and a 60-day public consultation later this year.

Final reflections

The project showed both the urgency and complexity of just transition. Voluntary standards cannot solve every challenge, but they can provide the frameworks, accountability, and assurance needed to guide transitions responsibly.

This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.

Credit: ResponsibleSteelStandards

Standards’ Role in a Responsible Transition: An IRMA-ResponsibleSteel Collaboration

29 July 2025By IRMA

[This is post also lives on the ResponsibleSteel website]

Exploring the role of standards in driving a responsible transition in steel and mining: A collaborative journey between IRMA and ResponsibleSteel

As the global shift toward decarbonisation gains momentum, so too do the questions around how the transition will affect people and communities. While emerging technologies bring a cleaner future, they also bring with them significant disruption, particularly in heavy industries like steel and mining. New technologies, shifting production geographies, and economic restructuring can create unintended social consequences such as job losses, community displacement, and weakened local economies.

In response to this, two Voluntary Sustainability Standards, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) and ResponsibleSteel have come together to explore what a just transition looks like for these sectors, and to explore the role of standards in steel and mining to drive a responsible transition. This joint project, supported by the ISEAL Innovations Fund and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), seeks to understand the social impacts of transitions and how voluntary sustainability standards can help ensure that this transformation is fair, inclusive, and responsible.

This collaboration reflects a growing recognition of the value in shared learning between the steel and mining sectors. By working together, IRMA and ResponsibleSteel are exchanging insights, comparing approaches, and learning from each other’s experiences to strengthen how just transition principles are understood and applied.

A shared vision rooted in multi-stakeholder governance

IRMA and ResponsibleSteel were both founded on the principle of multi-stakeholder governance. Their boards include labour unions, civil society, and industry (Purchasers, Indigenous Rights Holders, Investors-IRMA), as well as affected communities in IRMA’s case, ensuring that decisions are not only transparent but also equitable. This approach forms the foundation of our collaboration on the just transition. Together, we bring complementary strengths: IRMA’s standard addresses upstream mining operations at the site level, while ResponsibleSteel covers the downstream steel production process.

The two initiatives are jointly exploring how standards can help mitigate adverse social impacts of decarbonisation, such as the economic consequences of site closures or workforce displacement. Our goal is to provide a common foundation that recognises diverse regional realities and reflects the voices of workers, Indigenous Rights Holders, communities, and industry actors alike in our voluntary sustainability systems.

Laying the groundwork: Research and stakeholder engagement

The first phase of the project centred on an in-depth literature review of over 200 sources, including international standards, academic and practitioner literature, case studies, and online materials, with a focus on content relevant to the steel and mining sectors. This review explored how voluntary sustainability standards, global frameworks, and national policies approach just transition issues, highlighting areas of alignment as well as gaps. Insights were drawn from 11 standards and frameworks relevant to the steel and mining sectors, along with case examples from seven additional countries. Building on this foundation, the team conducted over 30 stakeholder in-depth interviews with voices across industry, labour, Indigenous rights holders, supply chains, policymakers, academia, and civil society. These conversations were then complemented by two multi-stakeholder workshops in Johannesburg and Brussels, which brought together workers, unions, companies, NGOs, Indigenous representatives, and decision-makers. Each phase has contributed valuable, grounded perspectives that continue to shape the direction and priorities of the project.

Key insights from the project so far

What has become clear and consistent throughout both the literature review and the stakeholders’ engagement so far is the contested nature of the term ‘Just Transition’. As we all live in different worlds with different contexts of reality, everyone brings their own understanding and priorities when thinking about a just transition. As voluntary sustainability standards, we must be thoughtful in how we define and interpret this term. We need a flexible framework where local context can be well reflected, and the context and priorities are defined by local stakeholders.

Another key insight that emerged from all activities was the critical importance of an inclusive governance and management system that accommodates a meaningful stakeholders’ engagement process and inclusive decision making at every step of the way to achieve a just transition. This also presents a challenge – inherent tension between the urgency of just transition issues and the often time-consuming nature of stakeholders’ engagement. It is not just about having a process itself, but it is about recognising and addressing the existing power imbalance between stakeholders, and ensuring that the process facilitates meaningful consultation, which, in essence, means providing equitable access to consultation and decision-making processes.

Moving forward

Drawing on their sectoral expertise, multi-stakeholder governance models, and shared commitment to transparency and accountability, IRMA and ResponsibleSteel are exploring how standards can support a just transition in practice. This project marks an initial step toward building a stronger foundation for future efforts, recognising that meaningful progress will depend on continued collaboration and engagement.

Join the conversation

As this joint project progresses, ResponsibleSteel and IRMA would like to continue the conversation with stakeholders. An important milestone in this journey is an upcoming webinar, which will provide an opportunity to share key findings, share what we heard from those who contributed to the project, and explore how voluntary sustainability standards can play a meaningful role in supporting a responsible transition in the steel and mining sectors.

We invite you to join us for a webinar hosted by IRMA and ResponsibleSteel :

Date: Thursday, 4 September

To make it easier for participants in different time zones to join, the same session will be offered at two different times.

Session 1:
10:00–11:30 CEST / 10:00–11:30 SAST (South Africa)
9:00–10:30 BST (UK)
3:00–4:30 PM Southeast Asia (Jakarta Time)

Click here to register for session 1.

Session 2:
16:00–17:30 CEST / 16:00–17:30 SAST (South Africa))
15:00–16:30 BST (UK)
10:00–11:30 AM US Eastern Time (EDT)

Click here to register for session 2.

Find out more about ResponsibleSteel here.

Hands together at the Mototolo workshopStandards

Standards’ role in a responsible transition for steel and mining

20 February 2025By IRMA

ResponsibleSteel and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) are collaborating on a joint project supported by a grant from the ISEAL Innovations Fund, which is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, to better understand the social impacts of the net-zero transition for the steel and mining sectors and how standards can help guide good practice.

Two project leads, Haruko Horii, Standards Manager at ResponsibleSteel, and Davidzo Muchawaya, Africa Regional Lead at IRMA, provide a short Q&A for readers to better understand the project.

Q: Haruko, what is the vision for the project?

With this project, we want to understand the social impacts of the transition to net zero and what role standards can play in guiding good practice.

The term ‘just transition’ is used by different people in different ways. We need to determine what this looks like for the mining and steel sectors. What exactly is a just transition? Whose transition are we discussing? Workers, local communities or supply chains? What is the scope of transition? These are some of the questions we need to consider.

Decarbonisation could have adverse social impacts such as job losses or displacement and significant effects on weakening the economic viability of affected communities. Initial research has shown that communities are facing significant social impacts caused by the transition to low-carbon practices. For instance, thousands of people have lost their jobs as a result of shifting from blast furnace technology to electric arc furnaces. These job losses have in turn impacted the wider community’s economic stability, community identity, and overall well-being.

These are the types of issues we aim to identify through this project, assessing how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can address them, identifying gaps, and outlining steps for future, more detailed work that could lead to larger-scale initiatives. We’ll test our findings by engaging with workers, unions, business leaders, community organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to identify an agreed approach and create practical guidance for players in the mining and steel industry.

Q: Davidzo, what do ResponsibleSteel and IRMA have in common, and why are they collaborating on a just transition?

We believe in the power of collaboration and mutual recognition. This project is just one of many examples of how different VSSs can complement and leverage each other’s work. Specifically, ResponsibleSteel leverages the assurance system of standards such as IRMA’s at mine site level, while focusing on the steel production aspects. Importantly, both ResponsibleSteel and IRMA were founded on a multi-stakeholder governance system, which has been recognised as a leading practice both by industry and NGOs. This model is recognised as best practice to ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.

The collaboration specific to a just transition is born out of the necessity to ensure two hard-to-abate sectors, steel and mining, address the realities workers and communities are facing in our changing world as many existing mine and steelmaking sites face adaptation or closure. Given the varying impacts of decarbonisation across regions, IRMA and ResponsibleSteel are uniquely positioned to provide frameworks that apply across these different contexts since they are both standard-setting organisations operating globally. What is more, they are able to consider both decarbonisation and the potential social impacts of the transition at the same time.

Q: How do each of you respectively integrate just transition into your standards?

Haruko: Standards are going to play a critical role in promoting accountability during the transition, ensuring they are fair and equitable. Although there is no explicit reference to a just transition in the current ResponsibleSteel International Production Standard, there are some elements to address the transition under Principle 4: Decommissioning and Closure of sites, which requires consultation with key stakeholders to minimise any adverse impacts. In future, the scope of this principle could be expanded to address issues related to site closures, or the Production Standard could adopt a different approach by providing a Just Transition Framework giving steel producers guidelines and tools to navigate an equitable transition with workers and affected communities. We plan to discuss these approaches with stakeholders in the next phases of the project. Integrating practices into the Production Standard will help ensure the industry’s transition is both environmentally and socially just.

Davidzo: As for the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, multiple chapters and requirements articulate what best practices could and should be for mining operations wishing to ensure a just transition for workers and affected communities. A prominent example is the requirement to involve affected communities and stakeholders in the development, design, and implementation of the mine rehabilitation and closure plan. Going beyond minimum transparency, the IRMA Standard outlines a series of requirements dedicated to the adequate estimation and financing of mine closure and post-closure. Research shows that the mining operations often leave behind environmental and social liabilities, without taking charge of costs associated with the rehabilitation or appropriate closure of the sites thereby foregoing an adequate transition.

Crucially, the role played by both ResponsibleSteel and IRMA would not be the same without their multi-stakeholder governance systems. Thanks to the decision making process that takes into account private sector players as well as rights holders and labour unions, they can ensure that the voices of all parties are heard and taken into account in an equal way – hopefully adding the “just” element to “transition”.

Q: Davidzo, who is the main audience for this project?

The main audience for this project is workers and labour unions, as workers are most directly affected by the transition. Operators, from mining companies to steelmakers, are also key since, as employers, their actions and decisions will be critical to the social impacts of the transition, alongside national and subnational governments. Local communities impacted by the transition, NGOs that aim to act in their interests and standard-setting organisations are also key stakeholders.

Q: Haruko, is there a specific geographic focus for the project?

While just transition challenges and opportunities vary from country to country and even from site to site, the project is truly global as it strives to bring the complexities of these different realities to light. We aim to engage with stakeholders across different regions during the project to hear from different stakeholders the realities of the transition in different contexts. More information on this to come!

Find out more about Responsible Steel at responsiblesteel.org. Find out more about IRMA at responsiblemining.net.

Find out more about the project background, visit the project page on the ISEAL website.