Introducing the IDEALL Roadmap: A Roadmap to an Inclusive, Diverse and Equal Circular Carbon Economy for ALL

<p dir="ltr"><b>The chemical industry is one of the largest and most energy-intensive industries in the world. </b><b>It plays a pivotal role in our economy, producing essential products from fuels to pharmaceuticals.</b></p><p dir="ltr">However, the traditional linear carbon economy not only drives environmental degradation but also reinforces structural inequalities. This disproportionately impacts marginalised communities through pollution exposure, limited economic opportunity, and systemic exclusion from decision-making. The shift to a Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) represents a transformative opportunity to break this cycle.</p><p dir="ltr">This ‘IDEALL’ roadmap report is a preliminary exploration of how to ensure a fair and inclusive CCE transition. Developed through an extensive scoping review and stakeholder engagement, including three workshops with over 75 participants from academia, industry, government, and the third sector the report identifies three core areas where inequality must be addressed:</p><p dir="ltr">1) global inequality between high-and-low-income countries and continents,</p><p dir="ltr">2) domestic inequality within workplaces, and</p><p dir="ltr">3) domestic inequality between geographical areas.</p><p dir="ltr">This roadmap focuses on four strategic priorities key to enabling a more inclusive transition:</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Removing Financial Barriers:</b> Addressing cost inequities in access to clean products and technologies and ensuring vulnerable communities are not left to bear the financial burden of transition.</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Dismantling Elitism:</b> Challenging exclusionary systems of decision-making and amplifying the knowledge and agency of underrepresented communities.</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Empowering Communities:</b> Embedding place-based decision-making that respects local values, cultures, and needs, fostering ownership and resilience.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Diversifying Voices:</b> Ensuring diversity of voices across all levels, from governance and research to implementation, to reflect the lived realities of all who are impacted by the transition.</p><p dir="ltr">Within each strategic priority, paths forward to aid CCE leaders and decision makers embed equality, diversity and inclusion into their transition plans are set forth. This ensures that the just transition to a CCE proactively addresses the needs of those most vulnerable to climate and economic shifts.</p>