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Vienna 2 November – The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum has started at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, showcasing innovative technologies and transformative solutions to accelerate low-emission, climate-resilient development. The event aims to foster new partnerships to scale up investments and technology transfer to developing countries. The Forum will deliver practical inputs to feed into the United Nations Climate Conference COP 28. It is organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) together with the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller stated: “Energy is the basis for all development and progress. The world population is growing, and the global primary energy demand is projected to increase by 50 to 70 percent by 2050. To protect our climate and our global public goods, we need a new, sustainable, fair global model of growth and globalization. We have the technology and the knowledge for worldwide solutions. What we need is a new ‘Green Deal’, and more investments, especially in the African countries. Industrialized countries need to fulfill their climate commitments.”

H.E. Mr. Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Austria: “The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum is the result of a strong network of actively engaged international organisations based in Vienna like UNIDO, IAEA, SEforALL, REEEP, REN21 as well as IIASA. Austria is proud to host organizations advancing energy transition and addressing energy security. Austria is committed to continue to support these partners in their work and mandate, thereby strengthening the so-called Vienna Energy Hub.”

High-level representatives from Member States, international organizations, global CEOs, experts as well as youth representatives from more than 145 countries will be discussing best practices and exploring solutions for moving towards net-zero and meeting the global Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, topics include:

• Fostering innovative approaches to deploying renewable energy to reduce energy access gaps and accelerate decarbonization.
• Promoting nature-based solutions to expand natural carbon sinks and ensure that developing countries are able to seize existing and new opportunities.
• Advancing green industrialization and just and sustainable energy value chains.
• Supporting agribusiness for more sustainable food production chains, to protect the environment and eliminate hunger.
• Accelerating industrial decarbonization and energy efficiency.

For more information about the outcomes of the Forum, please visit: https://www.ivecf.org/forum-2023/.

Press contact: Barbora Poyner  and ivecf@unido.org.