Community-based research supports more just and equitable industrial decarbonization

Jessica Smith; Jennifer Hirsch; Kirk Jalbert; Lauren Keeler; Katie OConnell; Daryl Lynn Roberts; Benjamin Sovacool

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-63569-x

Community-based research supports more just and equitable industrial decarbonization

Jessica Smith
, Jennifer Hirsch
, Kirk Jalbert
, Lauren Keeler
, Katie OConnell
, Daryl Lynn Roberts
, Benjamin Sovacool

Environment and Sustainability

Colorado School of Mines
Georgia Institute of Technology
Arizona State University
Visage Energy
Boston University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Industrial decarbonization refers to the removal or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, process emissions, or embodied carbon from industry. Building from our experiences working with communities contemplating industrial decarbonization projects, we argue that community-based research can move nebulous calls for “community engagement” to processes that emphasize just and equitable governance. We first summarize the co-benefits and risks of industrial decarbonization for historically marginalized communities. We then draw from our own experiences working on community benefit plans for developer-led projects to show how community-based research can help ensure that industrial decarbonization projects benefit the communities that choose to host them.

Original language	English
Article number	8239
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	16
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63569-x
State	Published - Dec 2025

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abstract = "Industrial decarbonization refers to the removal or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, process emissions, or embodied carbon from industry. Building from our experiences working with communities contemplating industrial decarbonization projects, we argue that community-based research can move nebulous calls for “community engagement” to processes that emphasize just and equitable governance. We first summarize the co-benefits and risks of industrial decarbonization for historically marginalized communities. We then draw from our own experiences working on community benefit plans for developer-led projects to show how community-based research can help ensure that industrial decarbonization projects benefit the communities that choose to host them.",

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AU - Roberts, Daryl Lynn

AU - Sovacool, Benjamin

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Community-based research supports more just and equitable industrial decarbonization

Abstract

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