Why in news?
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav met Indian industry members and project partners of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, or LeadIT, in New Delhi on 12 November 2026. The discussion focused on cooperation to reduce emissions from industries such as steel, cement and transport. Participants sought support for preparing projects, testing technologies and building skills. India and Sweden plan to launch LeadIT's third phase at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on 17 November. The immediate task is to turn cooperation among governments, companies and researchers into practical industrial projects.
What LeadIT brings together
India and Sweden launched LeadIT in 2019 at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, with support from the World Economic Forum. The initiative brings governments and companies into a common platform for industrial decarbonisation. Decarbonisation means reducing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with production and energy use.
According to the Environment Ministry's November 2026 announcement, LeadIT has 19 countries and 33 companies as members. The group's secretariat is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute. Its work connects policy discussions with technology cooperation and industry-transition partnerships.
LeadIT's stated ambition is a just and equitable transition towards net-zero emissions from heavy industry by 2050. A just transition pays attention to the people and economies affected by industrial change. Skills, access to technology and the ability of emerging economies to participate are therefore part of its work.
Why some industrial emissions are difficult to reduce
Steel, cement and other heavy industries use large amounts of energy. Many processes need very high temperatures. Changing the source of that heat can require new equipment, reliable supplies of alternative energy and investment across a plant.
Some emissions also come from the production process itself. In cement making, heating limestone releases carbon dioxide as the raw material changes chemically. These are called process emissions. They help explain why industrial decarbonisation requires attention to raw materials and production methods as well as to energy supply.
The International Energy Agency identifies several approaches for cement, including energy and material efficiency, lower-emissions fuels, alternative raw materials and carbon capture. Carbon capture separates carbon dioxide from a gas stream so it can be managed through a suitable use or storage pathway. Different industrial processes require different combinations of measures.
What industry members discussed
The New Delhi interaction brought together steel and cement companies, transport businesses and research institutions. Participants described LeadIT's support for forming partnerships, assessing technology feasibility and sharing knowledge. They also sought further support for project preparation, pilot projects and capacity building.
A feasibility assessment examines whether a proposed technology can work in a particular setting and what resources it needs. A pilot project tests an approach on a limited scale. These steps help partners understand technical and operational questions before making a larger commitment.
Capacity building develops the skills and organisational ability needed to carry out the work. In an industrial project, that can involve interpreting technical evidence, preparing a project and learning to operate or maintain new equipment. Cooperation helps bring these different forms of expertise together.
From dialogue to industry partnerships
LeadIT's second phase began at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, alongside the India–Sweden Industry Transition Partnership. Its work has included a forum for equitable transition, technology transfer and joint development, and partnerships that connect technical and financial support.
These arrangements link different responsibilities. Governments shape the policy setting, companies bring production experience and investment decisions, and research institutions contribute scientific and technical expertise. The purpose of a partnership is to connect those roles around a workable project.
For the proposed third phase, the Environment Minister described an implementation-oriented platform. The ministry said the launch was planned for the LeadIT Industry Leaders Roundtable at COP31. The November interaction provided a setting for Indian members and partners to discuss the support needed for that next stage.
Conclusion
LeadIT addresses industrial decarbonisation through cooperation around technology, skills and projects. The New Delhi discussion identified project preparation and pilots as practical needs. Those steps connect the group's broader ambition with the work required at individual industrial sites.
Sources
- Environment Ministry, 12 November 2026: LeadIT industry interaction and planned third phase
- LeadIT: origins, objectives, secretariat and cooperation pillars
- Stockholm Environment Institute: the LeadIT initiative and partnership role
- International Energy Agency: cement's energy, material and technology challenges
- International Energy Agency: high-temperature industry and process emissions