Greening industry to preserve our planet for future generations
With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) underway in Bonn, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is restating its support for the Paris Agreement as a crucial step towards achieving a greener, sustainable future.
Industry is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly one third of total global emissions.
As the UN’s specialized agency promoting industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability, UNIDO is committed to greening the manufacturing process. To achieve the reduction in emissions needed to limit global warming to a two degree Celsius increase, UNIDO is focusing on industrial energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for productive activities.
According to the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency can achieve 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. A further 35% of the required emissions reductions can be achieved by the use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. In this context, UNIDO is supporting enterprises and governments in developing countries and emerging economies with the implementation of energy management systems, as well as in accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, thereby helping them to improve their energy performance, productivity and environmental sustainability.
Most of the controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are potent greenhouse gases. UNIDO supports a large number of countries to completely phase out the production and use of these substances. Thanks to UNIDO’s actions, a reduction of approximately 340 million tonnes of CO2-eq. has been achieved.
Looking ahead, innovation is the key to driving a transformational change to lower-carbon and higher-productivity development. UNIDO is accelerating the development of clean technology climate solutions, especially for the industrial sector. One example is the UNIDO-GEF Global Cleantech Innovation Programme which supports cleantech start-ups and SMEs to develop innovative climate solutions as profitable business models.
UNIDO is currently implementing over 450 projects to help safeguard the environment, and will continue to work extensively with its Member States and other stakeholders to achieve the targets and goals set by both the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
At COP23, UNIDO will be co-organizing over 24 side-events, covering Industry 4.0, the Climate Technology Centre and Network, the Private Financing Advisory Network, and Nexus and Energy Efficiency Accelerators.