Euromines participated in Decarb Connect Europe 2026 on 3 June 2026, a high-level forum focused on industrial decarbonisation, low-carbon materials markets, and the transition to a net-zero economy. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, financiers, and technology providers to move from climate ambition to implementation.
Panel: Who is actually buying low-carbon materials and how can market development be accelerated?
Rolf Kuby, Director General of Euromines, moderated the panel discussion, which brought together industry and policy experts including Laura Hutchinson, Tobias Lechtenfeld, and Jakob Flechtner to examine demand creation and market barriers for low-carbon products.
Key Takeaways:
- Ambition alone is insufficient; Europe must focus on concrete implementation, leveraging its strengths in innovation, technology, and industrial expertise.
- High energy costs remain a major competitiveness challenge for European industry.
- Financing gaps persist across CAPEX, OPEX, and offtake mechanisms for low-carbon projects.
- Scaling from pilot projects to industrial deployment requires economies of scale and stable demand signals.
- Effective demand-side policies are essential to create functioning markets for low-carbon materials.
These conclusions align with the CEPS analysis “Making the green premium work”, highlighting the need for policy frameworks that stimulate demand for low-carbon industrial products.
Decarb Connect Podcast
Rolf Kuby is also featured on the Decarb Connect podcast, “Decarbonizing at the Source: Why Raw Materials Are the Blind Spot in Europe’s Climate Strategy,” discussing the role of raw materials and supply chains in Europe’s climate and decarbonisation ambitions. Listen here.
