At COP26 in Glasgow, more than 40 countries launched the Breakthrough Agenda – a commitment to work together internationally this decade to accelerate the development and deployment of the clean technologies and sustainable solutions needed to meet the Paris Agreement goals, ensuring they are affordable and accessible for all.

Despite different national circumstances, these nations will endeavour to work together in each sector, including through public-private collaboration and by mobilising finance at scale, to make the global transition to a clean economy faster, lower cost and easier for all, while making solutions to adaptation more affordable and inclusive.

According to a UK government press release, “The plan will see countries and businesses work closely through a range of leading international initiatives to accelerate innovation and scale up green industries – this includes, for example, stimulating green investment through strong signals to industry about the future economy, aligning policies and standards, joining up R&D efforts, coordinating public investments and mobilising private finance particularly for developing nations.”

However, the Policy Paper did not mention aligning policies and standards. The nearest it came was to say “Leading initiatives for international collaboration: As well as working through relevant international institutions and region-specific initiatives, we note the importance of the following global initiatives to making progress towards and coordinating activities towards this breakthrough goal.”

The announcements also mentioned a “first movers coalition” which, according to the Guardian, involves “25 global companies committing to buy emerging clean technologies in sectors such as steel, trucking, shipping, aviation and concrete. Firms are expected to include the shipping company Maersk and the cement maker Holcim.” The Guardian also says that “World leaders have committed to discussing and strengthening global progress on breakthroughs every year, supported by reports led by the International Energy Agency.”