Context: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) & Climate Club launched ‘Global Matchmaking Platform’ (GMP) for industrial decarbonization at COP29. 

• UNIDO is a specialized agency of UNs with a mandate to promote, dynamize & accelerate industrial development.  

• Climate Club is an intergovernmental forum for exchange on accelerating climate action & industry decarbonisation.

Climate Club Work programme 2025-26

• The GMP was part of the three modules under the Climate club work programme for 2024. The Climate Club was launched at COP28 in Dubai last year — an initiative aimed at cooperation between countries in decarbonising the industrial sector. 

• Led by Germany and Chile, the Club has garnered support from 38 member countries including Kenya, the European Union, Switzerland and others. 

• They have each committed to efforts in developing strategies and standards for decarbonisation.

• The Climate Club members’ statement to COP29 underlined the new work programme for 2025-26. The work programme progresses the work on three pillars —

• Pillar 1: Advancing ambitious and transparent climate change mitigation policies

• Pillar 2: Transforming industries

• Pillar 3: Boosting international climate cooperation and partnerships.

About Global Matchmaking Platform (GMP) 

• Aim: To boost international climate cooperation & partnerships to enable developing & emerging economies to leap-frog into climate-friendly industrial development.

• Secretariat: GMP is a support mechanism of Climate Club, with secretariat hosted by UNIDO.

How it works?

• It connects country-specific needs with global technical & financial assistance to reduce emissions in energy & emissions-intensive industrial sectors. 

• It’s accessible to all emerging & developing economies.

What is Industrial Decarbonisation? 

• Definition: It’s the process of focusing on energy-efficient & sustainable projects that reduce industries' overall carbon footprint.

• Key Strategies: low-carbon technologies, Decarbonizing End-Use Energy through renewable sources, Carbon Capture, Utilisation, & Storage etc.

• Need: Decarbonizing industrial sector is critical for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

• Industrial activities alone are responsible for a quarter of global energy systems CO2 emissions.

Initiatives Undertaken 

• Global 

• Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (2021): Co-led by UK & India, it is global coalition of public & private organisations to stimulate global demand for low carbon industrial materials. 

• Alliance for Industry Decarbonization: Coordinated by International Renewable Energy Agency, aims to decarbonize industrial value chains.

• India

• Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme: Energy efficiency credit trading scheme for industries.

• Ministry of Steel is working to decarbonize steel sector, with a focus on renewable energy, green hydrogen etc.