At COP29, the Net-Zero Industries Award 2024 honored innovators for the second year, celebrating achievements in decarbonising hard-to-abate and energy-intensive sectors. The ceremony took place on November 18th at the Australian Pavilion at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and was presented by Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler and Australian Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen MP.

Prof. Karen Scrivener from EPFL, Switzerland, received the Female Innovators award for her contributions to sustainable construction materials. Dr. Cameron Halliday, CEO of Mantel, USA, was recognized as Young Talent for his pioneering industrial decarbonisation research. Australia’s Calix Limited earned the Outstanding Project award for their Zero Emissions Steel Technology (ZESTY), while Cemex México’s SOLAR CLINKER project, which harnesses solar energy for CO2-free clinker manufacturing, won the Special Prize for International Advancement in Industrial Decarbonisation in the Global South.

With 70 entries from 26 countries, the competition showcased transformative ideas, underscoring global efforts to achieve net-zero goals. Ministers Gewessler and Bowen praised the winners for their innovative solutions and their vital role in addressing climate change.

Find the official press release here.

Watch the award ceremony on YouTube here.