UN Climate Change News, 19 November 2024 - At COP29, government and industry leaders have charted pathways for high-emitting industries to reduce emissions from "hard-to-abate" sectors such as steel and cement. During COP29's Technology Day on Transformative Industry, an event co-organized by UN Climate Change's Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) highlighted policy and technology innovations that can deliver rapid, impactful emission reductions in heavy industries.
These sectors, responsible for roughly 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have significant potential to drive climate action. Steel, cement and chemicals and petrochemicals alone contribute about 70% of industry-related emissions.
Despite this potential, until now only a fraction of national climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), include emission reduction targets in the industrial sector.
Robert Habeck, Germany's Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, said: "The decarbonization of global industry is within reach, but only if we act decisively and collectively. Germany stands ready to lead, innovate, and collaborate with partners worldwide to bring transformative technologies to scale. By working together - across borders and across sectors - we can ensure that industry not only meets the demands of the future, but leads the way in building a resilient, sustainable, and climate-conscious global economy."
The focus on hard-to-abate industries at COP29 comes at a crucial moment as countries around the world are preparing the latest update of their NDCs, due in 2025, mapping their national climate actions for the coming decade.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honourable Advisor for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh, said: "Vulnerable countries with limited decarbonization capacity need to have adequate financial and technical support to develop green industries without compromising inclusive economic growth. For emerging and fast-growing developing countries, there is a need for international cooperation and financial and technological assistance to foster decarbonization."
"The need is for easy and simplified access to concessional finance and technological transfer to the states, private sector actors and communities to accelerate their decarbonization efforts for a just and inclusive transition," she added.
During the event, examples were showcased of technology developed to decarbonize production processes. The TEC also launched its latest policy brief providing actionable guidance to integrate hard-to-abate industries into national climate targets, in alignment with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal.
More about the TEC's transformative industry initiatives.
