European industry leaders discuss decarbonization and chemical transition

Industry, research, and political representatives from multiple countries gathered at recent conferences in Vienna and Dessau-Roßlau to address the decarbonization of European industry and the transformation of the chemical sector.

At the Nefi Conference in Vienna, participants focused on the theme ‘Future Industry – Innovating for Competitiveness.’ Discussions centered on scaling technologies such as electrification, energy efficiency, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCU/S), and circular economy models within real-world industrial operations. Experts emphasized that technological innovation must be paired with stable political frameworks and targeted support for research to maintain economic competitiveness during the transition to climate neutrality.

In Dessau-Roßlau, a joint conference by the German Environment Agency (UBA) and the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) addressed the systemic challenges facing the European chemical industry. Participants highlighted the need for a unified transformation path toward 2050 that balances industrial value creation with planetary boundaries. Key obstacles identified include high energy and investment costs, international competitive pressure, and the necessity of aligning climate protection with resource conservation and chemical safety.