Day 1 and 2
Capacity Building and Ownership in Developing Countries: International cooperation in technology and innovation is crucial, but it must also focus on capacity building, skills development, and knowledge transfer. This allows countries in the Global South to take ownership of their energy transitions and implement solutions suited to their specific needs.
Roundtable discussion on addressing challenges included the need for flexible storage and coordinated grid planning, private sector engagement, policy tools, data/information, and strengthening international collaboration between MI Missions and CEM Workstreams.
International collaboration is crucial in many areas of financing the energy transition.
The MI Integrated Biorefineries Mission and CEM Biofutures Initiative are collaborating to advance common standards for carbon accounting of biobased fuels and chemicals. Need agreement on credible and robust standards for carbon accounting and biomass.
Accelerate aims to facilitate knowledge-exchange between governments about best-practice for supporting start-ups. Key take-aways from the discussion included: need public-private partnerships to support start-ups; lessons to be learned from deep tech in the medical and life sciences sectors; need a suite of strategic interventions including adopter-driven approaches to help pull through new technologies, and advisory support.
Innovation and International Cross-Sector Collaboration: Achieving net-zero by 2050 requires innovation across all hydrogen technologies and systems, with global cross-sector cooperation crucial to accelerating research, development, and deployment of low-TRL technologies like alternative hydrogen production and hydrogen carriers.
Financial and Regulatory Support: Financial institutions like the European Investment Bank (EIB) play a critical role in providing not only funding but also expertise for hydrogen projects, highlighting the need for long-term contracts and collaboration across the value chain to mitigate risks and scale hydrogen solutions.
MI is strongly positioned to help deliver on the global cooling pledge – through the work of both the Urban Transitions Missions, and the Innovation Community on Sustainable Heating and Cooling of Buildings. Opportunities for a joint CEM-MI initiative to advance both innovation and deployment of these cooling technologies.
Discussion on recommendations included the need for 5-year calls instead of 1-year calls. The call should embed carbon pricing strategy. Mission Innovation should consider grand open challenges. Research follows the funding.
New Knowledge-Sharing Platform: The launch of the GPFM Knowledge-sharing Platform, developed by China, Italy, and the UK, will further strengthen global cooperation. The platform consolidates technical solutions, shares insights on demonstration projects, and provides expert consultations, ensuring the continued exchange of knowledge and best practices across regions.
There is a need to maximise collaboration and knowledge exchange between stakeholders & initiatives: CEM IDDI, CEM CCUS initiative, MICDR, GHG Protocol.
The Clean Hydrogen Mission announced the release of its first survey results of global research and innovation priorities for hydrogen and set out how it hoped to use these results to influence future international research and development programs.
Keynote speakers reinforced that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation and MI can enhance members’ ability to scale up.
Canada announced MI’s joining of the Equal by 30 initiative, which works to accelerate gender equality and diversity in clean energy transitions, to close the gender gap by 2030. Activities under MI’s Inclusivity catalyst will continue to support social inclusion for a just transition.
Women can play a leading role in the clean energy innovation and deployment space. We must continue to push for a world where no one is left behind in the energy transition and amplify the voices of women and other marginalized groups.
Collaboration Across Missions: The joint vision of GPFM and UTM emphasizes the importance of bridging different missions and initiatives. By connecting existing efforts, such as renewable energy and urban development, more comprehensive and effective solutions can be achieved.
Switzerland has joined the MI Integrated Biorefineries Mission on a pilot basis (as well as the Net Zero Industries Mission). Strong alignment between Switzerland’s domestic priorities on innovation and MI’s goals.
MI members from the Netherlands, Brazil and India are all taking action to accelerate the development of biomanufacturing and biobased materials. MI and CEM can serve as platforms to bring innovators and policymakers to together to share what has accomplished.
The Breakthrough Agenda report showed that international collaboration and cooperation remained key. The panellists’ reflections supported this, noting that there were already existing fora to support collaboration and these should continue to be utilised.
Collaboration Gaps in Energy Transition: National, provincial, and local governments need to work more closely to align their climate goals. Cities, responsible for much of the world’s energy consumption, must significantly reduce their environmental impact and involve communities in the process.
AI is not a technology of the future – it’s here now and we need to leverage it in support of our clean energy goals. MI and CEM can make a difference on this issue and contribute to improved public understanding of the issue.
AI can have applications across the clean energy sector – especially where large quantities of data are involved. This can include power transmission and grid management, materials for energy, and carbon capture. Impacts are also on data centre.
There are still many untapped collaboration opportunities between business and government that should be explored, as cities can’t do it alone.
Day 3
Collaboration and Just Transition: Minister Silveira highlighted the importance of international cooperation and launched the Joint Ministerial Declaration of MI and CEM stressing the need for global efforts to tackle climate challenges and ensure an inclusive energy transition.
Progress and Challenges in Clean Energy: Fatih Birol (IEA) pointed out that while 2023 marked record-high emissions, investments in clean energy are growing. However, the energy sector must address infrastructure gaps like grid and storage development to fully realize renewable energy potential.
Inclusive Energy Transition: Speakers emphasized the need to involve women, youth, and emerging markets in clean energy policymaking and innovation, with increased investments and capacity-building programs essential for enabling equitable participation.
Financing and Scaling Innovation: Multiple speakers stressed the importance of scaling clean energy finance, especially in developing countries, and highlighted challenges in de-risking investments and accelerating technology transfer to meet climate goals.
Collaboration to drive impact: Members provided strong feedback on the value of continued cooperation between MI and CEM, and with other partners, to both inform and implement political commitments. They highlighted positive examples of existing and new concrete collaboration, for example on the ‘Gt by 2030’ carbon management campaign, and emphasised the importance of driving impact and results where there are opportunities to bring real value, drawing on our global network of technical experts.
COP agenda: Members highlighted MI and CEM’s role in contributing to the knowledge-exchange, dialogue and finance mobilisation needed to keep 1.5C in reach and deliver on the COP28 outcomes. Some called for a particular focus on the pledge to double energy efficiency. The incoming COP Presidency Azerbaijan set the scene for COP29 and underlined the clear links between MI’s innovation agenda and their COP29 Presidency initiative to establish a commitment on green energy zones and corridors to promote investment, stimulate economic growth, develop, modernise and expand infrastructure, and foster regional cooperation.
National action: Members gave many examples of using domestic plans and policies to facilitate investments and drive the transition at a national or local level, including in grid interconnection and infrastructure and increased clean energy generation capacity. Members and partners expressed strong commitment to the MI and CEM agendas, with leadership and cooperation on R&D being essential for energy security, sustainable development and jobs creation.
National Circumstances & Priorities: To align with net zero goals – MI and CEM members are advancing a number of cutting-edge technologies. Members acknowledged that a diverse number of pathways exist, and that these should be guided by national circumstances.
Private Sector Engagement: Members acknowledged the importance of engaging further with the private sector – with governments providing policy signals, leading on energy planning, and taking innovative approaches to financing. Member governments can play a key role to derisk projects to close the innovation gap.
People-Centred Transitions: Many members highlighted domestic efforts to assess socio-economic impacts of the transition, assess skills, and plan for a just and inclusive transition. There was support for continued MI and CEM efforts in this area.
Strengthening Collaboration: Members mentioned the desire for strengthened MI and CEM collaboration across the innovation to deployment continuum. As well, opportunities to link up with G7, G20, and COP leadership in the coming years.