Held under the guiding theme “Powering Prosperity, Security and Stability,” the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF) convened more than 1,400 global leaders and changemakers from 147 countries gathering in person to catalyze progress toward achieving development, energy and climate goals. Taking place amid a severe global energy crisis, geopolitical tensions, economic vulnerabilities and intensifying climate impacts, the Forum spotlighted transformative power of green industrialization, sustainable energy and climate resilience to drive equitable growth and contribute to global and local security, stability and prosperity for all.
The Forum mobilized partnerships, unlocked financing and launched concrete initiatives to scale impact. It provided a platform for peer learning and exchange of scalable solutions across least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), small island developing States (SIDS), emerging economies and fragile contexts. The Forum launched the Industry Clean-Tech Platform, a digital one-stop shop connecting African industries with clean technology providers, expertise and services.
Several key announcements, which will help shape and inform the design of future projects, underscored the Forum’s role as a catalyst for action.
A major announcement was the launch of the Global Programme on Climate-Resilient Renewable Energy Systems in SIDS (G-RES), implemented by UNIDO, backed by USD 13 million from the Global Environment Facility and an additional EUR 2.5 million contribution from Austria. The programme is set to accelerate investment in resilient renewable energy solutions, simultaneously contributing to energy security, emission reduction, productivity and climate-adaptation benefits in key island value chains, such as tourism, agriculture and blue economy.
The IVECF also announced the launch of the UNIDO-led strategic initiative to advance resilient and low-carbon industrial and economic development along the Lobito Corridor. The new initiative will support the corridor management in developing a clean energy vision and strengthening the pooling of regional renewable energy and critical mineral potentials for green industrialization.
The Forum outlined pathways for developing countries to reduce fossil fuel and raw material dependence and move towards higher-value green industrialisation, linking just energy transitions with industrial policy, jobs, innovation and skills. It highlighted how sustainable energy value chains - from critical minerals to upstream and downstream manufacturing and services - can drive growth, resilience and shared prosperity. It also emphasised green industrial hubs and economic corridors, regional value chains and climate-resilient supply chains as key to reducing climate disruption and expanding markets for resilient technologies.
Finance emerged as a key impact area. Participants called for systemic reforms to unlock affordable capital at scale, including wider use of de-risking instruments and the application of the United Nations Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to improve access of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS to concessional finance. The Forum stressed that scaling green industrialization will require a shift to programmatic, system-level investment approaches.
IVECF advanced the emerging Global Green Industrialization Agenda, providing practical pathways and multistakeholder support for countries to align industrial, energy, climate and trade policies into coherent national strategies and accelerating coordinated action on green industrialization. Putting the Belém Declaration on Global Green Industrialization into action, the Agenda, to be unveiled at COP 31 in Türkiye, will connect countries with finance, technology and partnerships, while scaling proven solutions across regions.
The Forum also reinforced the importance of embedding just transition principles into industrial policy frameworks and investment decisions, ensuring that women, youth, SMEs and vulnerable communities are active participants and beneficiaries of industrial transformation.
IVECF catalyzed new cross-sector coalitions and concrete collaborations, including new partnerships led by UNIDO with the Enel Foundation and Inter-American Cement Federation to advance innovation, capacity-building and sustainable industrial development. Sierra Leone joined the Global Alliance for Responsible and Green Minerals, a multi-stakeholder initiative to promote responsible mineral value chains led by UNIDO.
Concluding with the Vienna Call to Action on green industrialization, sustainable energy, climate and security, the IVECF delivered actionable recommendations to United Nations policy processes, including the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and discussions on the post-2030 development agenda. The Call to Action urges integrated policies, scaled finance and coordinated global action to advance green industrialization and shared prosperity.
The Call to Action acknowledged the importance of regional, south-south and triangular cooperation as important accelerator of just energy transitions and green industrialisation and highlighted the UNIDO supported Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC).
The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum took place from 9–10 April 2026 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, and was co-organized by UNIDO, the Austrian Government, and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).
Read the final report by International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
For more information on selected IVECF announcements, partnerships and thematic sessions, please see below:
Barbados and UNIDO launch Global SIDS Industrial Transformation Platform
UNIDO and A6IP signed Joint Declaration to advance high integrity carbon markets
UNIDO and Enel Foundation partner to drive green industrialization and energy transition
Rebuilding Futures: Green Industrialization in Crisis Contexts and Recovery
