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Day 2

Implementing Action-oriented Policy Measures

  • 21 March 2023
  • CR-3, Vienna International Centre, Vienna

On the second day of the Forum, the focus shifted to the implementation of action-oriented policy measures in different policy areas and country contexts. Four thematic learning sessions (energy efficiency, green hydrogen, digital transformation and gender equality) were organized with the aim of sharing policymaking knowledge and experiences. Prof. Jeffrey Sachs delivered the opening remarks, calling on governments to prioritize long-term policy planning aligned with the SDGs. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of regional collaboration for effective solutions to global challenges.

Related documents:

Industrial Policy for Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is crucial for decarbonization, offering a cost-effective means to expand energy generation and renewable energy sources. Yet the world is not on track to doubling the rate of energy efficiency by 2030 (SDG 7). Two key challenges prevent the scaling up of energy efficient practices in businesses:

Challenge 1

General lack of technical knowledge (‘how to’) and of awareness of energy efficiency’s benefits

Challenge 2

Limited awareness about the availability of and/ or the inadequacy of policy tools and incentives, including adequate financing to support businesses in increasing investments in energy-efficient practices and technologies.

Recommendation 1

Raising awareness about available energy efficiency measures and their benefits.

Recommendation 2

Establishing a suitable regulatory framework combined with specific policy measures to encourage energy efficiency.

Related documents:

Industrial Policy for Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries and promote industrial development. By endorsing renewables and substituting much of the fossil fuel economy in the future, green hydrogen can become a real gamechanger for developing countries. However, several challenges need to be addressed to achieve a just hydrogen transition. The main challenges are:

Challenge 1

Lack of infrastructure, such as limited electrolyser capacity and transporting green hydrogen via pipelines, for example, pose significant obstacles to its production.

Challenge 2

Capacity development: providing domestic industries with the necessary skills and training is crucial for the successful implementation of green hydrogen projects.

Challenge 3

Inadequate investment, which presents an obstacle to the bankability of hydrogen projects.

Recommendation 1

Promoting the expansion of the country’s industrial capabilities by developing a dedicated industrial strategy.

Recommendation 2

Setting clear and comprehensive targets to ramp up demand creation and stimulate investment.

Recommendation 3

Preventing the exploitation of developing countries which should introduce policies that encourage the use of green hydrogen to manufacture and export (basic) products.

Related documents:

Climbing the Ladder of Industrial Digitalization

Multiple collaborative interventions are needed to achieve digital transformation and increase technological and human capital capacity development. To help countries climb the technological ladder, financing and investments in infrastructure, education and training are crucial. Effective regulatory frameworks that foster an environment that is conducive to the adoption of digital technologies in industries and encourage both market and mindset readiness. Industrial SMEs encounter four main digitalization challenges:

Challenge 1

Acquiring basic capabilities to engage in digital transformation.

Challenge 2

Scarcity of skilled labour.

Challenge 3

Overcoming low technological maturity and improving digital literacy.

Challenge 4

Addressing capital shortages.

Recommendation 1

Making digitalization a collaborative journey between the public and private sectors and facilitating access to financing.

Related documents:

Gender and Industrial Policy

Despite evidence that increasing the rate of women’s participation in industry has a positive impact on productivity and efficiency, they continue to be underrepresented in industry. Moreover, whenever they are included, they are not perceived as “agents of change”. This translates into several key challenges:

Challenge 1

Low representation of women in high-technology sectors due to structural and cultural barriers to empower women in industry.

Challenge 2

Lack of access to education and training as well as limited opportunities for career development, impeding women’s ability to shape and influence industrial policy.

Challenge 3

Lack of women’s representation in leadership and managerial positions in the industrial sector, which can result in policies that fail to consider/ address the needs and experiences of female workers or inadvertently reinforce gender inequalities in industry.

Recommendation 1

Developing gender transformative industrial policies to better support industrial performance and changes in social norms.

Recommendation 2

Collecting gender disaggregated data to help achieve more effective implementation of gender-sensitive approaches and facilitate sustainable industrialization.

Recommendation 3

Acknowledging that gender equality is essential for achieving the SDGs and for improving the country’s industrial performance.
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