Background:

Originally organized by the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC) in 2020 and 2021 with a focus on adaptation technologies, the TEC Technology Day returns in 2024 and 2025 to spotlight the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries, including the cement, steel, chemical, and petrochemical sectors. Building on the success of the first part of Technology Day on Transformative Industry held at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which focused on the steel and cement industries, the second part will be convened at COP 30 in Belém, Brazil, with a focus on the chemical and petrochemical industries, recognizing their significant contribution to industrial emissions and the urgent need for scalable technological and policy solutions to drive their decarbonization. The Technology Day on Transformative Industry at COP 30 is organized by the TEC in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

The industrial sector holds significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, being directly and indirectly responsible for approximately 34 per cent of global emissions. Within this sector, the steel, cement, and chemical and petrochemical industries, often referred to as hard-to-abate industries, play a pivotal role. Together, they account for nearly 60 per cent of total industrial energy consumption and around 70 per cent of the sector’s emissions. The chemical and petrochemical industries, in particular, generate substantial process emissions, underscoring the urgent need for transformative approaches. These include the use of decarbonized hydrogen and its derivatives as feedstocks, the electrification of chemical processes, increased use of energy-saving technologies and renewable energy, and circular economy approaches.

Objectives:

The Technology Day on Transformative Industry aims to inform Parties and other stakeholders on technology, policy, and support options for hard-to-abate industries as they develop and implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term low-emission development strategies (LT-LEDS). Specifically, the event seeks to:

• • Raise awareness of the critical importance of industrial decarbonization for achieving the goals of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and to demonstrate the value of integrating industrial decarbonization into NDCs and LT-LEDS;
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  • Share policy and technology options and showcase innovation by providing a platform for policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, experts, and innovators to exchange insights and experiences on decarbonizing the chemical and petrochemical industries. Discussions will highlight energy-efficient technologies, increased use of renewable energy, and potential interventions across supply and demand chains.
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  • Foster multi-stakeholder partnerships by exploring opportunities to accelerate industrial decarbonization through bilateral, multilateral, public-private, and industry partnerships. This includes identifying pathways to mobilize finance and investment, particularly in developing countries, through innovative financing models, public-private partnerships, and international climate finance mechanisms.
  
  • Gather inputs to inform the TEC draft analysis on standards and labels for low- and near-zero-emission production and products in hard-to-abate industries.
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