Energy management firm, Schneider Electric, has urged governments to scale up policy backing for industrial decarbonisation, warning that current global efforts fall short of what is required to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century, as the 2026 World Economic Forum wrapped up on Friday.
Speaking at the Industry Net Zero Accelerator Initiative organised by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, Schneider Electric’s Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Blum, described industrial decarbonisation as a critical route to tackling climate change, while also boosting profitability and job creation.
He stressed that deeper cross-industry collaboration is essential to speed up the deployment of energy technologies, noting the growing interdependence between Artificial Intelligence and energy systems.
He said, “It is clear we have entered a new era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) and energy are inseparable, and together, they will reshape every business. AI requires compute, and compute requires energy. That is why the world needs greater energy intelligence.”
Blum noted that companies across the globe are grappling with similar challenges and opportunities around energy efficiency, adding that Schneider Electric is positioning itself to support the transition through electrification, automation and digitalisation.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi, said decarbonisation has moved beyond choice and is now an unavoidable economic necessity, particularly for delivering development benefits in emerging economies.
She urged African governments to put in place sustainable policies that can support the implementation of industrial decarbonisation and unlock its economic potential.
Ogunbiyi further noted that Africa and other developing regions, many of which are still in the early stages of industrialisation, have a rare opportunity to build clean industries from the outset.
On the sidelines of WEF, Schneider Electric and EDP jointly launched EDGE Transition, a global accelerator designed to support social entrepreneurs providing clean, affordable energy solutions and inclusive economic opportunities in underserved communities.
The company also received international recognition for its work in artificial intelligence and energy innovation, having been selected into Cohorts 1 and 2 of MINDS (Meaningful, Intelligent, Novel, Deployable Solutions), a World Economic Forum programme that showcases high-impact, real-world AI applications.
In addition, Schneider Electric’s factory in Wuhan was recognised by the Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, which honours the world’s most advanced manufacturing sites.
The facility became one of only three factories globally to receive a distinction for talent, a category introduced this year.
The award brings Schneider Electric’s total Lighthouse recognitions to nine, with the Wuhan factory commended for its people-centred, future-ready workforce model that addresses skills gaps and strengthens manufacturing resilience.
