Inclusive Industrial Decarbonisation Policies to Effectively Integrate Energy, Climate, and Development Goals in Emerging and Developing Economies

Industrial decarbonisation is a critical pillar of the global energy transition, accounting for 37% of total final energy use and one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reframing heavy industries from “hard-to-abate” to “priority-to-abate” is essential to accelerate progress in energy efficiency, renewable energy, hydrogen, and carbon capture. For developing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this represents an opportunity to leapfrog towards green industrialisation by adopting scalable low-carbon technologies and localising value chains.

This paper highlights the strategic importance of industrial decarbonisation, outlines pathways for sustainable industrial growth, and proposes a global partnership framework enabling inclusive and equitable green transformation across emerging economies.