Since 1995, the United Nations has hosted a Conference of the Party (COP), bringing together almost every country in the world for a multilateral decision-making forum on climate change.

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, over 50 global stakeholders endorsed the Hydrogen Declaration (Annex 5), calling for urgent action to scale clean hydrogen. The declaration emphasizes hydrogen’s vital role in achieving global energy and climate goals, particularly in hard-to-decarbonize sectors including transportation and heavy industry.

Expanding Hydrogen’s Role in the Global Transition

The Hydrogen Declaration highlights hydrogen’s flexibility as an energy carrier, which is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and driving economic growth.

While today hydrogen production is still dominated by gray hydrogen, which accounts for 71 percent of global production according to Wood Mackenzie, the declaration calls for a rapid transition to cleaner production methods, with a focus on achieving near-zero emissions hydrogen by 2030 to meet global climate targets.

With global demand for hydrogen projected to grow significantly, the declaration stresses the need to reduce emissions from existing production methods and scale renewable hydrogen. Industry leaders estimate that advancing clean hydrogen could unlock $3.7 trillion dollars in economic savings and create up to 25 million jobs by mid-century. However, meeting global climate goals will require annual hydrogen production to increase to 75 million tons by 2030, far exceeding the seven million tons supported by current incentives.

Key Actions to Drive Hydrogen Adoption

The Hydrogen Declaration outlines critical actions for governments, stakeholders, and industry players to accelerate hydrogen adoption:

• Stimulate Demand: Governments are urged to set clear targets and provide incentives for hydrogen adoption, particularly in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like transportation and heavy industry.
• Global Standards: The declaration calls for the development of international standards to ensure hydrogen technologies are interoperable across borders, facilitating a global hydrogen market.
• R&D Investment: Focused investment in research and development is needed to enhance hydrogen production efficiency, lower costs, and support widespread adoption.
• Financial Support: The declaration emphasizes the need for financial and technical assistance, particularly in developing countries, to scale up hydrogen deployment across the value chain.
• Just Transitions: Governments are encouraged to promote inclusive transitions that support job creation and economic growth, particularly in regions impacted by the shift to hydrogen and other clean technologies.

Moving Forward with Hydrogen

The Hydrogen Declaration provides a clear roadmap for scaling hydrogen production and integrating it into national energy strategies. It stresses the need for strong government policies that not only accelerate hydrogen adoption but also create a supportive environment for infrastructure development and long-term market stability. With hydrogen set to play a central role in global decarbonization efforts, the declaration calls for coordinated international action to unlock its full potential.

The Hydrogen Declaration endorsed at COP29 marks a historic moment for scaling hydrogen solutions. With backing from governments, industry, and civil society, the declaration aims to overcome the barriers to widespread hydrogen adoption. By investing in infrastructure, production, and policy, the global community can unlock hydrogen’s transformative potential to decarbonize industries and lead the world toward a more sustainable and resilient energy future.