Shantanu Srivastava and Tanya Rana
March 5, 2026
Heavy industries’ net-zero progress: what you need to know
This video is part of: Centre for Energy and Materials
8 heavy-emitting sectors account for around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These sectors play a key role in the global economy and demand is set to rise more than 60% by 2050, so it’s imperative to make them more sustainable How are they getting on? The Net Zero Industry Tracker has the answers.
Eight heavy-emitting sectors—aviation, shipping, trucking, steel, cement, aluminum, chemicals, and oil and gas—contribute 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With demand in these industries expected to rise by over 60% by 2050, achieving sustainability is critical.
The Net Zero Industry Tracker shows promising signs. Between 2022 and 2023, the sectors reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 0.9%, while emissions intensity—the emissions per unit of production—fell by an average of 4.1% from 2019 to 2023. Five sectors, including aluminum, cement, chemicals, aviation, and trucking, achieved energy efficiency gains at 1.6 times the rate of the global energy system.
The path to decarbonization demands innovation, investment, and leadership. Watch the video to learn more about the progress and challenges heavy industries face on their net-zero journey.
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Energy Transition
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