Just Transition
Just Transition
Business in the Community brings businesses, communities, policymakers and civil society together to design and deliver a just transition, building a future-ready economy that works for everyone.
What is a Just Transition?
A just transition is about ensuring the shift to a net zero, climate-resilient economy works for everyone. It recognises that the transition will affect people, communities, jobs and places differently, and that climate action must be designed to create opportunity, build skills, strengthen communities and protect nature. For business, a just transition means embedding fairness and inclusion into climate action so that the benefits of the transition are shared widely and no one is left behind.
of people believe that action to address the climate crisis and restore the health of nature matters.2
of business leaders see responsible business as a driver of growth, showing that long-term prosperity depends on tackling social and environmental challenges.1
of GDP predicted climate damage to the UK without stronger co-ordinated action.3
How BITC can help
Business in the Community brings together businesses, communities, government and civil society to tackle shared challenges and shape practical solutions for a just transition. We provide the tools, insights and peer-learning opportunities organisations need to embed just transition principles into their strategies and decision-making, while supporting practical action through place-based partnerships, community investment and skills initiatives that deliver positive outcomes for people, places and nature across the UK.
Futureproofing Business Resource Hub
Explore practical tools, guidance and examples to help your business build long-term resilience and create value for people, places and nature. Created in partnership with Royal London, The Futureproofing Business Resource Hub brings together BITC resources to help organisations understand environmental, social, and economic risks and opportunities, strengthen transition plans, work with stakeholders and take practical action across their operations, value chains and communities.
Explore our work
A just transition is about ensuring the shift to a net zero, climate-resilient economy works for everyone. It recognises that the transition will affect people, communities, jobs and places differently, and that climate action must be designed to create opportunity, build skills, strengthen communities and protect nature. For business, a just transition means embedding fairness and inclusion into climate action so that the benefits of the transition are shared widely and no one is left behind.
Community Climate Fund
The Community Climate Fund brings businesses and communities together to tackle climate action while building local resilience. Through funding, collaboration and business expertise, Business in the Community supports community-led projects that reduce carbon emissions, strengthen communities and deliver lasting benefits for people, places and nature.
Seven Steps for Futureproofing Business
These seven steps help businesses build a practical strategy aligned with creating a future-ready economy. They are designed to be relevant for all organisations, from those starting out to those embedding transition planning across strategy, operations and value chains. Each step includes short, medium and long-term actions to help businesses move from ambition to delivery.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
BITC defines a just transition as being “a fair and inclusive journey to a net-zero, resilient future where people and nature thrive.” Businesses must design this future with diverse stakeholders; create economic opportunities and equip people to access them and actively regenerate communities and nature.
Originating in the international labour movement, the term ‘just transition’ is increasingly being used by environmental and social justice movements and across governments. Just transition principles have been adopted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the landmark Paris Agreement. Taking action to ensure that the transition to net zero is fair and just is essential to build the social and political capital that is needed to achieve net zero.
Climate action refers to activities by businesses, governments, communities, and individuals that reduce greenhouse gasses to limit climate change (known as mitigation), as well as activities that reduce the negative impacts of climate change by improving resilience (known as adaptation).
Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that’s produced and the amount that’s removed from the atmosphere. It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal.
There are a number of examples of how BITC members have taken climate action available in the case study section of our website. There are also a number of impact stories available in our guides, factsheets, and reports, including in the Climate Action Routemaps.Â
The Seven Steps for Just Transition shows how businesses can deliver a just and fair transition to a resilient, net-zero future. The steps will help organisations ensure their business model is climate-proof and contribute to a future where people and nature can thrive. Taking these steps will also support in creating value and enhance the prosperity of employees, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Climate Action Routemaps further support business to action the steps of Building Green Skills, Involving Diverse Stakeholders with Climate Action, and Embracing Circular Economy Practices.Â
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Get in touch with a member of our team to see which of our opportunities would be most suitable.Â