CEO Matt Rogers steps down as net zero decarbonisation strategies win support from more than 200 industrial companies

The Mission Possible Partnership, the leading voice on industrial decarbonisation, has announced new leadership appointments following the successful launch of its industry-backed decarbonisation strategies at UN Climate Week in New York and the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh.

The three new sector transition strategies (STS) – for aluminium, ammonia and steel – map detailed pathways for action in this decade to meet a 1.5 ºC-aligned sectoral carbon budget by 2050. MPP’s work is focused on seven of the hardest-to-abate, high carbon-emitting industrial sectors. Strategies for aviation, shipping and trucking sectors were published earlier this year. A cement and concrete transition strategy will be released in the coming months.

Completion of this work signals the beginning of a new chapter for MPP. Matt Rogers will step down as CEO, after a period of tenure marked by more than 200 endorsements from high-ambition companies for MPP’s decarbonisation plans, and substantial new funding for two industrial hub projects in the United States. MPP chairman Chad Holliday will take over the reins as executive chairman, effective October 1st.

Matt Rogers said: “It has been a great privilege to serve as chief executive officer. We know how to reduce emissions, initially deploying resources and technology available today. MPP will be measured by gigatons abated, not PowerPoints created. Our work has defined clear, operationally relevant pathways: the focus must now shift to delivering enough new or converted industrial capacity to put industry squarely on the path to net zero by mid-century."

Chad Holliday said: “On behalf of the MPP board, we extend our profound thanks to Matt for his leadership. Our mission is possible. Under Matt’s guidance, MPP’s work has demonstrated how this can be done, and what is necessary by 2030 to reduce industrial emissions sharply. The imperative is to act now, in this decade. We will continue to benefit from Matt’s expertise, and I look forward to his continuing close cooperation with MPP."

Partnerships: Mission Innovation, Science-based Targets initiative (SBTi)

In tandem with the launch of the new STS reports, MPP announced two new strategic partnerships to drive closer coordination between industry and policymakers.

MPP will work closely with Mission Innovation (MI), a global initiative spanning 22 countries and the European Commission, to foster closer collaboration between policymakers and the private sector. MI and MPP intend to coordinate their activities where possible, to embed concrete real-economy goals and milestones for rapid decarbonisation. Both organisations will work together to catalyse and strengthen international collaboration around the sprint to 2030.

MPP will also work closely with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) to ensure close alignment between MPP’s industry-backed sector transition strategies and SBTi’s science- based targets. This partnership will deepen the relevance of both organisations to the operational requirements for industry decarbonisation within sectoral carbon budgets aligned to the goal of the Paris Agreement to curb global warming to 1.5 ºC above pre-industrial levels by mid-century.

MPP hubs programme

In August, MPP received a generous grant to speed and scale the development of large decarbonisation projects in two industrial hubs in the United States.

Chad Holliday said: “This initiative is core to MPP’s shift from insight to action, and a corresponding shift in perspective from global strategy to local implementation."

Further details of these projects will be announced in due course.

New appointments

MPP announced the following management appointments.

Jessica Uhl, a board director at Goldman Sachs and former chief financial officer at Shell, will join MPP as Vice-Chair. Jessica is a member of the advisory board of the Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy, and recognised by Forbes as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in the World, and by Fortune for her business leadership. She will lead a project to reinforce and expand MPP’s capacity to collaborate with partners and execute projects at scale.

Bryan Fisher, managing director of climate-aligned industries at Rocky Mountain Institute, is appointed MPP Director of Hubs with specific responsibility for the two industrial hubs in the US. A seasoned energy executive and consultant with deep experience in decarbonisation, Bryan is a former CEO of Fortify Energy and Jumar Energy Capital.

Faustine Delasalle, vice-chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, is appointed MPP Director of Systems Change. She will oversee MPP’s work on value chains transformation across the seven sectors. Faustine is a recognised energy transition expert and coalition builder. A former Director of the Energy Transitions Commission, she co-led the development of MPP from 2019.

Chad Holliday said: “On behalf of the board, we’re grateful to our senior leadership for taking on these new roles, and to our founding partners for their ongoing support. I also thank Jessica for stepping in to oversee the enhancement of our partner and project management processes as MPP begins this next chapter of our work. In alliance with our founding partners, MPP will focus on execution of our established programmes and embark on further fundraising to accelerate rapid industrial decarbonisation in this decade."

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The Mission Possible Partnership is an alliance of climate leaders focused on supercharging efforts to decarbonise some of the world’s highest-emitting industries. By leveraging the convening power, talent and expertise of world-leading organizations on climate action,
the MPP aims to trigger a net-zero transformation of seven industrial sectors; ammonia, aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, and trucking. MPP is led by four core partners: the Energy Transitions Commission, RMI, We Mean Business Coalition and the World Economic Forum. Our goal is to propel a committed community of CEOs from carbon- intensive industries—together with their financiers, customers, and suppliers—to agree and act on decarbonizing industry and transport in this decade.