The Hunter has been officially named as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative, joining 34 other industrial areas across 16 countries working to reduce emissions and shift to cleaner energy and industry practices.
The announcement was made by New.E co-chair Clare Larkin-Sykes on the second day of the Hunter New Energy Symposium, marking the region’s entry into a group that includes well-established international ports such as Rotterdam, Gothenburg, and the Solent.
The World Economic Forum-led program connects industrial areas—many based around major ports—to share lessons and combine efforts to reduce emissions, protect and create jobs, and attract investment. The initiative currently involves 70 public and private stakeholders and represents regions responsible for two-thirds of the world’s GDP.
For the Hunter, the invitation to join reflects ongoing work to decarbonise heavy industry and reshape its energy economy. It also offers the chance to share knowledge and collaborate with other regions attempting similar transitions.
“We’re honoured to stand shoulder to shoulder with global leaders, working together to decarbonise heavy industry, drive investment, and shape the clean energy future,” Larkin-Sykes said.
New.E, along with the Committee for the Hunter, played a key role in preparing the region’s involvement. The collaboration will offer opportunities for the region to connect with international policy efforts, financing models, and infrastructure planning that support both emissions reduction and local employment.
The World Economic Forum reports that participating clusters have helped avoid 850 million tonnes of CO2e emissions so far, supported the creation and protection of 4.3 million jobs, and contributed nearly $500 billion to the global economy.
While the scale is large, the focus is on cooperation at the local level. For the Hunter, this move connects its energy transition work with a growing international community focused on practical, shared action in the decarbonisation of industry.
