Brussels, Belgium, 12 October-15 October 2026
Europe’s industrial future depends on its ability to combine competitiveness with climate ambition. Against this backdrop, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) participated in Brussels Climate Week (12-15 October), a leading platform for dialogue on climate action and industrial transformation with thematic days on Technology and Innovation, Energy, Industry, Urban Development and Nature.
This momentum continued at  European Sustainable Industry Summit 2026 (13-14 October), by European Business Network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility flagship gathering which focused on sustainable competitiveness and business leadership. Through both events, UNIDO contributed its global expertise on industrial decarbonization, clean energy, digital innovation and sustainable industrial development.
Throughout the week, UNIDO experts contributed to a series of keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, high level interviews and strategic dialogues which focused on advancing the objectives of the European Union’s Clean Industrial Deal, strengthening Global Gateway partnerships. Â Representing the Organization were Christophe Yvetot, UNIDO Representative to the European Union, Georgia Iordanescu, Chief of the Sustainable Energy and Just Transition Unit, Akos Koeszegvary, Chief, Division of Public Private Partnership, Ms. Anna Jardanovsky, Partnership and Communication Expert, Division of Public Private Partnership, and Eleonora Gatti, Head, Climate Technology Innovation Unit, Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol, UNIDO.
On 12 October, during Tech and Innovation Day at Brussels Climate Week, Christophe Yvetot joined a roundtable on advancing green digital action, alongside partners from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Commission.
He underscored the importance of international cooperation to ensure that the benefits of the digital transition are shared across regions, supporting the objectives of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal and contributing to a more competitive and sustainable industrial future. He highlighted the critical role of the private sector in mobilizing investment and scaling impact, referring to UNIDO’s partnerships with Orange and Nokia in Egypt under the EU and Finland co-funded Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains (SWITCH2CE) programme, implemented by UNIDO.
UNIDO’s engagement at the European Sustainable Industr y Summit was framed by the opening high-level plenary, “Europe’s Industrial Reset: A New Mandate for Sustainability Leadership,”. The plenary was opened by Michele Fracchiolla, President and CEO of Hitachi, Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, and Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) at the European Commission.
Building on these discussions, Georgia Iordanescu, Chief of the Sustainable Energy and Just Transition Unit at UNIDO, joined the high-level panel “Aligning Policy and Scaling up Collaboration to Enhance Energy, Water and Circular Innovation,” where she highlighted the importance of international cooperation, policy coherence and strategic partnerships in advancing industrial decarbonization, sustainable competitiveness and inclusive economic growth.
During Energy Day at Brussels Climate Week, Christophe Yvetot delivered a keynote address on “Clean Energy and Industry: Europe’s Transition in a Global Context.” Reflecting on the global implications of Europe’s energy transition, he noted:
“As Europe accelerates its industrial transition, global value chains must adapt alongside it. Industrial decarbonization cannot end at Europe’s borders. Through cooperation, technology and investment, we must ensure that partner countries are equipped to participate in a competitive and low-carbon global economy.”
At the same time, UNIDO’s contribution extended across both events. At the European Sustainable Industry Summit, Akos Koeszegvary, Chief of the Division of Public-Private Partnerships, and Anna Jardanovsky, Partnership and Communication Expert, joined the Leadership Roundtable on “Local Value Chain Creation and Due Diligence for Responsible Materials Sourcing”, bringing UNIDO’s perspective on sustainable value chains, responsible sourcing and private sector engagement. Reflecting on UNIDO’s contribution, Stefan Crets, Executive Director of CSR Europe, noted: “UNIDO’s engagement in our Leadership Roundtable on responsible materials sourcing brought an essential global and industrial development perspective. Working alongside downstream companies, policymakers and producing countries, their contribution showed how due diligence can become a catalyst for responsible investment and real local value. We look forward to building on this partnership.”
UNIDO’s climate and resilience agenda was further advanced through the participation of Eleonora Gatti, Head of the Climate Technology Innovation Unit, in the IOM roundtable “From Risk to Resilience: Unlocking Investment for Climate Mobility”. Joining representatives from DG CLIMA, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, she highlighted the importance of connecting climate technology investments with local innovation ecosystems, building local capacity, and strengthening industrial resilience in communities affected by climate mobility.
A highlight of the day was UNIDO’s participation in the Climate Leadership Reception, hosted by the Carbon Trust. During the event, UNIDO exchanged views with Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition of the European Commission, on accelerating industrial decarbonization and clean energy deployment, reinforcing the shared commitment to a competitive, resilient and inclusive net-zero future.
Industry Day focused on one of the defining questions of our time: how can countries turn climate ambition into industrial opportunity? Addressing this challenge, Georgia Iordanescu, Chief of the Sustainable Energy and Just Transition Unit at UNIDO, delivered a keynote address highlighting, “What happens after the energy transition? The answer is not a destination. It is a direction. It is electrification plugged into industrial corridors, productive enterprises anchored at energy nodes, and resilient economies that generate value through disruption rather than being destroyed by it. The transition is not an endpoint. It is a way of becoming.”
While Industry Day explored how the energy transition can drive economic transformation, Urban Day at Brussels Climate Week examined how these ambitions can be translated into sustainable and climate-resilient cities. On 15 October, Eleonora Gatti, Head of the Climate Technology Innovation Unit at UNIDO, delivered a keynote address on “District Cooling as a Vital Component of Sustainable Urban Planning.”, calling for cooling to be embedded in urban planning as an essential infrastructure for climate adaptation. She highlighted the growing importance of innovative district cooling solutions in improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and helping cities adapt to climate challenges while advancing sustainable urban development. Drawing on UNIDO’s experience in Colombia, she illustrated how district cooling measures can translate cooling demand into viable investment opportunities.
Beyond the conference sessions, UNIDO’s messages were further amplified through a series of high-level media engagements. On the sidelines of the events, Christophe Yvetot and Georgia Iordanescu participated in interviews with The Parliament, where they reflected on the interconnected challenges of energy security, industrial competitiveness and sustainable development. Drawing on discussions held throughout the week, they highlighted the importance of industrial decarbonization, Team Europe partnerships and investments that link clean energy deployment with productive capacity, value chain development and job creation.
The week’s engagements strengthened UNIDO’s partnerships with European institutions, industry leaders and development actors, while reinforcing the Organization’s role as a bridge between Europe’s sustainability ambitions and global industrial development priorities. Discussions throughout the week highlighted growing convergence around a shared objective: building competitive, resilient and low-carbon industries that create jobs, foster innovation and deliver tangible benefits for communities worldwide.
