Quality infrastructure

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

The international quality infrastructure ecosystem has several organisations (e.g. the International Organization for Standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Accreditation Forum) that look into the development of new services to ensure the global transport sector operates in a safe and sustainable manner.

Examples and initiatives

ISO TC 204 – Intelligent Transport Systems; ISO TC 241 – Road traffic safety management systems; ISO TC 255 – Biogas; and ISO TC 344 – Innovative Logistics are examples of international technical committees that develop and manage standards for the global transportation industry.

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

The availability of green hydrogen is a key for the development of e-fuels. However, the importance of quality infrastructure for green hydrogen differs across countries. Developed economies have an established track record and system in place that can be fine-tuned or adapted for the hydrogen sector. However, in emerging and developing economies, quality infrastructure ecosystems may be non-existent or not as well developed. Hence, international co-operation and dedicated quality infrastructure initiatives are essential to support emerging and developing economies in ensuring such an ecosystem is in place to support their safe and sustainable green hydrogen development plans.

Examples and initiatives

IRENA and the National Metrology Institute of Germany have recently completed a project entitled “Quality infrastructure for green hydrogen: technical standards and quality control for the production and trade of renewable hydrogen”, which developed a global roadmap to support countries on the steps to be followed in establishing a quality infrastructure ecosystem for green hydrogen (IRENA, 2024d).

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

The importance of quality infrastructure for green hydrogen differs across countries. Developed economies have an established track record and system in place that can be fine-tuned or adapted for the hydrogen sector. However, in emerging and developing economies, quality infrastructure ecosystems are either non-existent or not as well developed. Hence, international co-operation and dedicated quality infrastructure initiatives are essential to support emerging and developing economies in ensuring such an ecosystem is in place to support their safe and sustainable green hydrogen development plans.

Examples and initiatives

IRENA and the National Metrology Institute of Germany have recently completed a project entitled “Quality infrastructure for green hydrogen: technical standards and quality control for the production and trade of renewable hydrogen”, which developed a global roadmap to support countries on the steps to be followed in establishing a quality infrastructure ecosystem for green hydrogen (IRENA, 2024d).

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

The importance of quality infrastructure for green hydrogen differs across countries. Developed economies have an established track record and system in place that can be fine-tuned or adapted for the hydrogen sector. However, in emerging and developing economies, quality infrastructure ecosystems are either non-existent or not as well developed. Hence, international co-operation and dedicated quality infrastructure initiatives are essential to support emerging and developing economies in ensuring such an ecosystem is in place to support their safe and sustainable green hydrogen development plans.

Examples and initiatives

IRENA and the National Metrology Institute of Germany have recently completed a project entitled “Quality infrastructure for green hydrogen: technical standards and quality control for the production and trade of renewable hydrogen”, which developed a global roadmap to support countries on the steps to be followed in establishing a quality infrastructure ecosystem for green hydrogen (IRENA, 2024d).

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

The importance of quality infrastructure for green hydrogen differs across countries. Developed economies have an established track record and system in place that can be fine-tuned or adapted for the chemical and petrochemical sector. However, in emerging and developing economies, quality infrastructure ecosystems are either non-existent or not as well developed. Hence, international co-operation and dedicated quality infrastructure initiatives are essential to support emerging and developing economies in ensuring such an ecosystem is in place to support their safe and sustainable green hydrogen development plans.

Examples and initiatives

IRENA and the National Metrology Institute of Germany have recently completed a project entitled “Quality infrastructure for green hydrogen: technical standards and quality control for the production and trade of renewable hydrogen”, which developed a global roadmap to support countries on the steps to be followed in establishing a quality infrastructure ecosystem for green hydrogen (IRENA, 2024d).

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

To accelerate the transition towards more sustainable practices in green cement production, it is vital to exchange knowledge on low-carbon cement technologies, financing options and other best practices for low-carbon transition. Such an effort is crucial to accelerating the decarbonisation efforts in emerging markets and developing regions. Key organisations are establishing knowledge platforms to promote knowledge transfer and build new capacities and skills on critical topics relevant to the cement industry’s transformation.

Examples and initiatives

The Innovandi research network, initiated by the GCCA, brings together more than 40 universities and research institutions collaborating on cement decarbonisation technologies.

The GCCA and the World Cement Association have established dedicated knowledge-sharing platforms to support members in adopting best practices for low-carbon cement production.

The International Labour Organization’s Skills for Green Jobs initiative is working with governments and industries to embed sustainability training in workforce development. European countries like Cyprus, Germany and Ireland have integrated cement sector apprenticeships into national education systems.

The Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Initiative (COP28) is a multi-government partnership focused on accelerating knowledge sharing on low-carbon cement. It facilitates quarterly thematic dialogues to drive policy alignment and industry action (GCCA, 2024).