A coalition of countries has launched a package of 25 collaborative actions to be delivered by COP28 that will speed up the rate of decarbonisation across power, road transport, steel, hydrogen and agriculture. The so-called Breakthrough Agenda will be extended to buildings and the cement sector next year. Supported by the COP Presidencies for COP26, COP27 and COP28, the package further aims to reduce energy costs and enhance food security. Its priority actions include developing common definitions for low-emission and near-zero emission steel, hydrogen and sustainable batteries, and ramping up the deployment of essential infrastructure projects, including at least 50 large scale net zero emission industrial plants, 100 hydrogen valleys, and a package of “major cross-border power grid infrastructure projects”. All involved governments have further committed to setting a common target date to phase out polluting cars and vehicles that is consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. These latest announcements build on commitments made by 45 countries at COP26 to work together to ensure clean technologies and sustainable solutions are more affordable and accessible across emissions-intensive sectors before 2030. Alok Sharma, COP26 President, said: “Since we launched the Breakthrough Agenda at COP26, the world has changed and we are facing a perilous geopolitical and economic situation. That only makes international collaboration more urgent. That’s why I am pleased that countries representing over 50% of global GDP have now agreed to a set of priority actions for implementation. Now, it is vital for all to deliver and demonstrate real progress as we move forward. This is integral to achieving the 2030 goal of making clean technology affordable, available and accessible to all.”
