Chapter 06 · Governance & regulationRegulation & International Instruments
Breakthrough Agenda
Definition
An international initiative launched at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 by 45 world leaders, committing signatories to work together to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible and attractive option in each emitting sector globally before 2030. Initial "Breakthrough" goals cover power, road transport, hydrogen, steel, cement and buildings, with agriculture added subsequently.
References
COP26 launch by 45 leaders; sector goals and 2030 affordability aim; annual assessment cycle; IEA–IRENA–High-Level Champions co-authorship.
Agriculture Breakthrough addition; priority-action packages; signatory coverage of global GDP.
Overview
What it means
The Agenda translates the Paris goals into near-term sectoral cooperation targets — for example, making clean power the most affordable and reliable option for all nations by 2030.
It operates through an annual cycle: countries and initiatives coordinate actions through the year, and progress is assessed in an annual Breakthrough Agenda Report co-authored by the IEA, IRENA and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, presented at each COP. Signatories now number around 60 countries representing the majority of global GDP.
The report repeatedly finds progress "limited" relative to the pace needed, with delivery strongest in power and road transport.
How it is used
Governments align industrial, trade and innovation policy through Breakthrough coalitions; the annual report tracks deployment and policy gaps; sector "Priority Actions" guide international collaboration on standards, finance and demonstration projects.
Why it matters
It is the main state-led mechanism for coordinating the clean-technology tipping points on which 2030 climate targets depend, and its annual report is the authoritative scorecard on whether sectoral transition is moving fast enough.