Industrial activities — including the production of steel, cement, aluminum and fertilizer — represent a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. Despite growing collaborative efforts to stimulate a low-carbon transition, the sector is still off-track with what’s needed to meet net-zero goals. To correct-course away from the most damaging impacts of the climate crisis, significant global actions must be taken in the coming decades to decarbonize the industrial sector.
On July 26 at 10 a.m. EDT (4 p.m. CEST) we held a high-level discussion on the opportunities to reduce emissions from industry, including lowering demand for conventionally produced materials, switching to clean energy, and applying new technologies and solutions. This virtual event covered the policies, mechanisms and practices that can drive low-carbon industrial processes while enhancing clean manufacturing and influencing the ambition of international manufacturing and trade.
Following the 14th annual Clean Energy Ministerial, speakers will discuss how the U.S. IRA could catalyze low carbon developments in the U.S.; the EU net zero and carbon border adjustment mechanism; and opportunities and unique challenges in decarbonizing industry in developing countries.
Co-hosted by World Resources Institute, the Bezos Earth Fund, and Climate Action Tracker (a project of NewClimate Institute and Climate Analytics), the discussion was informed by insights from Systems Change Lab’s new data platform that finds there are five shifts needed to transform the industry sector:
- Reduce demand for cement, steel and plastics
- Improve industrial energy efficiency
- Electrify industry
- Commercializing new solutions for cement, steel and plastics
- Reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations as they are phased down
Moderator
- Angela Anderson, Director of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Removal, World Resources Institute
Opening Remarks
- Rachel Jetel, Co-Director, Systems Change Lab
Speakers
- Noah Deich, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Carbon Management, U.S. Department of Energy
- Devika Wattal, Innovation Consultant, Global Cement and Concrete Association
- Domien Vangenechten, Senior Policy Advisor, E3G