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$1 trillion in heavy-industry projects is needed to reach net-zero; carbon pricing and green procurement can unlock investment and accelerate adoption.
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85% emission cuts are possible with carbon capture, green hydrogen, and other technologies if scaled
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50 carbon capture facilities and 230 green hydrogen projects are already operational, highlighting progress, though industrial uptake still has room to grow
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Emerging markets lead the way with 59% of planned clean industry projects in Sunbelt countries
1. Heavy industry is not the obstacle; it is the accelerator
The sector indeed represents around a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Taken together, industry and transport generate nearly 30% of global carbon emissions, placing them at the forefront of both the challenge and the opportunity in the climate fight.2 But this is exactly why heavy industry can lead the way to net zero.
Unlike diffuse emissions from cars or households, industrial emissions are concentrated, measurable and technologically addressable. Once breakthroughs are adopted at scale, they can cut emissions globally in one sweep. Industrial decarbonisation technologies, from carbon capture to green hydrogen, could reduce emissions in these sectors by up to 85% if deployed effectively.3 Yet, current deployment remains limited, with around 50 commercial carbon capture facilities operating today, alongside roughly 230 green hydrogen projects worldwide.4,5 While there are hundreds more in the pipeline, industrial applications account for less than 10% of total carbon capture capacity, and many hydrogen projects face delays.4
2. Emerging economies hold the real opportunity
Too often, the global debate assumes that solutions will be invented in the West and adopted elsewhere. But emerging markets are where the scale is greatest, the infrastructure is newest, and the incentives for progression are strongest.
Bangladesh, for example, is industrialising at speed. This allows it to integrate innovations like green hydrogen, a clean fuel made using renewable energy; carbon capture, which traps carbon dioxide emissions before they reach the atmosphere; or ammonia-powered vessels, ships that run on carbon-free ammonia instead of polluting fuels.
Reports show 59% of the world’s proposed clean industry projects, valued at $1.6 trillion, are located in ‘Sunbelt’ countries like India and Mexico, outpacing Western economies.6 Emerging economies are already proving they can lead, not follow.
3. First movers will own the future
This transition is not just about compliance but about competitive advantage. Ports that run on renewable power will become the preferred global trade hubs. Steel mills that adopt green hydrogen will supply the infrastructure of the next generation of cities, and shipping companies that transition to ammonia or methanol will dominate decarbonised supply chains.
Every industrial revolution has created winners who dared to lead. The net-zero transition will be no different, but the opportunity window is narrow. The shipping sector is on a rebound, with CO2 emissions rising 5% in 2022 and reliance on alternative fuels still below 0.5%.7 Those who move first will set the global standards others must follow.
4. Integration is the missing piece
The challenge is not only technological, but systemic. A port cannot decarbonise without green ships, and a cement plant can’t transition without low-carbon power. Industrial ecosystems are positioned to synchronise these shifts, creating momentum that isolated companies cannot achieve.
This is where emerging-market industrial groups, often spanning shipping, power, logistics and construction, have an outsized role to play. Integration is their competitive advantage, and it can be a global accelerator.
5. Leadership requires courage, not just compliance
If heavy industry takes the lead on net zero, it can transform the global economy. Real leadership means acting before rules force the change, investing in green infrastructure instead of small fixes, and working across countries to share solutions.
At COP29, experts warned that $1 trillion in heavy-industry decarbonisation projects is needed to align with net-zero pathways, supported by carbon pricing and government procurement standards to boost demand for green products.1 Companies that step up now will not only reduce emissions, but they will write the rulebook for the industries of the future.
Safwan Sobhan, Founder of Safwan Bashundhara Global (SBG), comments:
“If we want to get to net zero, heavy industry has to be part of the solution and not seen as the problem. Industry and transport together generate close to a third of global emissions, so progress depends on how these sectors evolve.
In countries like Bangladesh, we have a real chance to take a different path. Since many of our industries are still being built, we can bring in clean energy and modern technologies from the very beginning, instead of having to fix or replace old systems. That fresh start is a big advantage.
What matters now is connection. Ports, shipping, power, logistics, and construction all depend on one another. If they move forward together, the impact can be far greater than if each acts in isolation. Net zero is not just a climate goal, it’s a chance to build industries that are resilient, efficient, and prepared for the future.”
[1] Reuters | COP29
[2] RMI | Industrial decarbonisation
[3] Business Wire | Market report 2025
[4] IEA | Carbon Capture
[5] H2Tech | Global Energy Update
[6] Financial Times
