Accelerating the development, commercialization and scaling of innovative climate solutions is increasingly recognized as critical to achieving sustainable and inclusive industrial development in developing countries. As highlighted in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)’s Industrial Development Report 2026, climate innovation is essential to driving growth, job creation and socio-economic resilience through decarbonized industrial systems across sectors such as manufacturing, transport, power and buildings. This is particularly important in developing countries, where much of the world’s future industrial growth is expected to take place and where innovative and transformational projects can enable system-wide transitions towards low-emission development pathways.

At the same time, many of the technologies needed to achieve global climate targets are not yet fully commercialized. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that approximately 35% of the emissions reductions required to achieve a global net-zero scenario by 2050 will need to come from technologies that are currently at the demonstration or prototype stage. This underscores the urgent need to accelerate the commercialization and scaling of innovative climate solutions and “lighthouse” demonstration projects that validate technical and commercial feasibility, reduce investment risks and catalyse broader replication and deployment.

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