Vienna, Austria, 9 December 2025 - The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF 2026), to be convened on 9–10 April 2026 at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, comes at a pivotal moment. As the world races to deliver on sustainable development, energy and climate goals, growing concerns over international security and stability emphasize the urgent need for inclusive and integrated solutions as well as the need to provide climate justice.
Energy supply risks, competition over critical minerals, persistent energy poverty, and escalating climate impacts are deepening inequalities and instability. At the same time, rapid advances in sustainable energy technologies offer transformative opportunities to build inclusive, resilient economies and communities rooted in green industries and local value chains, fostering prosperity, enhancing stability and promoting equitable growth that leaves no one behind.
IVECF 2026 is co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The event will bring together leaders, innovators, experts and young changemakers to explore practical solutions that are inclusive, gender-responsive and socially just.
Underlining the central role of energy in sustainable development, UNIDO Director General, Gerd Müller, emphasizes: “Energy is the foundation of all development, and today’s global challenges – from climate change to rising inequality and geopolitical instability – demand a united response and a new era of industrial development built on a foundation of innovative and sustainable energy solutions. The IVECF 2026 will mobilize political momentum and chart a course for inclusive green development pathways that advance stability, security and prosperity for all, with a special focus on Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries – those countries that have contributed the least to climate change but are suffering the most from it.”
Echoing this call, Austria's Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, highlights Vienna’s role as a bridge builder connecting states as well as diplomacy, science and industry: “At a time of global uncertainty, Vienna serves as a hub for dialogue, cooperation, and multilateralism. Austria is proud to co-host the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum 2026 together with UNIDO and IIASA. We are deeply committed to fostering security and stability by advancing the green transformation that our planet so urgently needs. As we look ahead, empowering young people and future generations to lead this transformation will be key.”
Under the theme “Powering Prosperity, Security and Stability,” IVECF 2026 will serve as a bridge between political ambition and technical implementation. The discussions and outcomes will inform the United Nations Development Agenda and provide timely inputs to the global climate process, helping to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Forum will empower women, youth and marginalized groups as key actors in the green transition, advance equitable access to resources and decision-making, and foster locally rooted innovations that reflect diverse social realities. Special attention will be given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and fragile or post-conflict contexts.
Managing Director of the Austrian Development Agency, Bernd Brünner, notes: "Transforming energy systems towards greater reliability and sustainability is not just about ensuring prosperity, peace, and security - it is about enabling people to overcome poverty. Reliable and sustainable energy access forms a cornerstone of lasting energy security and inclusive development. This is why we are proud to support the IVECF.”Austria’s federal agency for development cooperation and humanitarian aid has been a committed supporter of the IVECF since its inception.
Director General of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, says: “We are the first generation with the knowledge to understand our planet’s limits, and the last with the power to change course. The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum reminds us that the green transformation is humanity’s greatest peace project. By aligning the physics of our planet with the ethics of our societies, we can turn sustainability into solidarity.”
On 10 April, the IVECF will join forces with the Global Green Industrialization Dialogue (GGID) to host sessions focused on delivering concrete actions to advance inclusive global green industrial growth.
Building on the event’s convening power, IVECF Solutions Week will feature a series of events in and around Vienna, running back-to-back with the official IVECF programme.
In addition to the above, the IVECF 2026 will be one of the events celebrating UNIDO's 60th anniversary, highlighting the organization's enduring commitment to advancing inclusive and sustainable development for the future.
Join us in Vienna to be part of this solution-oriented approach.
Registration will open in early 2026. For more information, visit: www.ivecf.org or contact: ivecf@unido.org.
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Press contacts:
Barbora Poyner
Communication Coordinator, UNIDO
Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
Department I.3 – Press and Information
aussenministerium.presseabteilung@bmeia.gv.at
Katharina Schreiber
Development Communications, ADA
Ansa Heyl
Press Office, IIASA