UNIDO Hydrogen Agenda at COP29: Industry Solutions for People and Planet

14 November 2024 - 16 November 2024

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UNIDO

In-Person

Scaling up the production and deployment of low-emission hydrogen and its derivatives is essential to accelerate the global clean energy transition, limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and achieve SDG7’s goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

At COP29, the UNIDO hydrogen team had an intense and productive time filled with insightful side-events, presentations, and valuable meetings with global stakeholders. The Conference provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen relations with the Programme's key partners and highlight UNIDO's mission in hydrogen: promoting low-emissions hydrogen production and use in developing countries and economies in transition, with the goal of fostering innovative industries and generating economic & social benefits for local communities.

See highlights below.

📍De-risking investments in hydrogen technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of industrial value chains

Time: 13:15-14:15; UNIDO Pavilion

In collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, UNIDO explored the topic of derisking investment in hydrogen technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of industrial sectors. The panel explored the pivotal role countries in the Global South, with significant renewable energy potential and mineral resources, can play in producing clean fuels and materials, generating added value domestically before export.

📍Investing in the Future of Hard-to-Abate Sectors with Low-emission Hydrogen

Time: 14:30-15:30; UNIDO Pavilion

UNIDO, together with the International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (IHFCA) and the International Hydrogen Energy Centre (IHEC), hosted an insightful session on low-emission hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors. The session showcased advancements in low-emission hydrogen technologies, the importance of public-private partnerships, and featured pioneering low-emission hydrogen vehicle developments by global automotive leaders.

📍Realising the Just Energy Transition through Ambitious and Sustainable Hydrogen Projects

Time: 18:30-20:00; Side event room

In alignment with the COP29 Presidency, UNIDO hosted an event with its public and private sector partners to emphasize the need for ambitious climate action, empower governments to fulfil their commitments through large-scale hydrogen initiatives, and discuss sustainability criteria for such projects. During the event, UNIDO presented the Guidelines, being developed in collaboration with both UN and non-UN stakeholders, including UN Trade and Development, UNEP, UNECE, IRENA, AfDB and IDOS, consulting governments, and private sector representatives such as Dii Desert Energy.

✅ These Sustainability Guidelines offer a valuable tool to help governments transparently prioritize proposals that advance national SDG goals and support a just energy transition. A publication detailing these guidelines will be available to the public in 2025.

📍High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Energy Mitigation Initiatives (by invitation only)

Time: 10:30-12:30, Mugham Special Event Room

The UNIDO team was proud to support the Presidency of COP29 Azerbaijan in drafting, promoting, and negotiating its Hydrogen Declaration.

Commitments achieved:
✅ Accelerate the decarbonization of existing hydrogen production from unabated fossil fuels while scaling up the production of renewable, clean, zero-emission, and low-carbon hydrogen.
✅ Scale up demand and deployment in hard-to-decarbonize sectors.

Endorsement (as of 22 November):
✔️52 countries
✔️29 private sector entities
✔️2 financial sector entities

📍Hydrogen Connects: Partnering for the hydrogen transition in developing countries

Time: 18:15-20:30; UNIDO Pavilion

UNIDO hosted a networking event bringing together key partners of the Global Programme for Hydrogen in Industry. The event reflected on progress, set milestones for 2025, and emphasised the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation in advancing hydrogen in developing countries.

📍Women from STEM for Hydrogen: An Open Talk & Networking

Time: 08:00-09:40; UNIDO Pavilion

UNIDO, in collaboration with Women in Green Hydrogen and the Hydrogen Council, hosted an engaging morning conversation with female leaders. Participants included senior managers from industry, researchers, leaders of hydrogen associations, youth representatives and high-level government officials. The open and sincere discussion explored the evolving role of women in the hydrogen sector, as well as the challenges and opportunities in this dynamic field.

📍Eyes on 1.5°: Innovative solutions for financing H2 Infrastructure

Time: 09:40-10:40; UNIDO Pavilion

The session, organised in collaboration with H2-diplo Decarbonization Diplomacy, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, provided a platform to discuss financing and infrastructure development for the green hydrogen market, with a focus on achieving the 1.5°C climate goal. Panelists explored challenges in scaling up transport and storage systems and stressed the importance of private capital.

Hydrogen events at COP