This session will debate the nature and scope of new industrial policies and explore their implications for investment and sustainable development. The discussion aims to uncover the underlying reasons for the resurgence of such policies in recent years and investigate whether these policies are adequately designed to address their stated objectives, e.g. to support the green and digital transitions, and at what cost for society, compared to alternative policy measures and considering their potential economic and political implications for investment and sustainable development in third countries. By sharing critical insights on their design and potential impacts, this session will help policymakers and other stakeholders understand and reflect upon strategies to navigate this new era of industrial policies and continue to advance on sustainable investment and development objectives.

This session will focus on implications of globally emerging industrial policies for global co-operation and dialogue on sustainable investment policy. As these policies gain traction in the leading advanced and emerging economies, governments worldwide are confronted with the need to respond to the risks and opportunities that may arise from shifts in international investment and trade patterns deriving from such policies. At times of rising geopolitical tensions and complexity, emerging and developing economies may particularly find themselves increasingly exposed to global FDI and trade fragmentation. This session will thus consider how governments, and particularly developing economies, can work to maximise benefits while minimising risks in this new environment, and how the international investment policy community can help to promote global integration and foster international policy coherence and co-operation for sustainable investment globally, especially between advanced and developing economies.

The session features the release of updated OECD investment data tools, including the FDI Qualities Indicators interactive dashboard 2024 and the FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index.

The impacts of climate change are already being seen and are projected to become more severe. Investing adaptation is needed to prepare for these changes and help to save lives, protect livelihoods and support economic growth. Private investment will be critical given the scale of the challenge, as a complement to necessary public investment. Currently, adaptation investment is obstructed by outdated policies, market failures, and limited capacity and financial resources. This session will explore how governments, international financial institutions and the private sector can collaborate to unlock the needed investment in climate adaptation. The session will further showcase the forthcoming OECD Climate Adaptation Investment Framework (CAIF).

International investment agreements (IIAs) have the potential to play a role in mobilising sustainable investment. In addition to the ongoing debate and action on targeting investment treaty benefits on climate grounds and ensuring policy space for government climate action, there are a range of new developments in addressing sustainable development in IIAs. Based on a new OECD report "Strengthening sustainable investment through international investment agreements (IIAs)", this session explores the role of IIAs with new types of sustainable investment provisions in mobilising investments to tackle global sustainability challenges, including through the establishment of international cooperation frameworks and their implementation at the domestic level.

Senior officials from international organisations gather to reflect on the insightful discussions and outcomes of the Roundtable. Together, they will synthesise key takeaways and articulate a collective vision for advancing sustainable investment globally. Building on the identified opportunities and challenges discussed throughout the Roundtable, the session will focus on actionable strategies for international organisation to empower governments and the private sector in boosting sustainable investment. Reflections will particularly focus on the needed actions resulting from the morning sessions on investment policy implications in the era of new industrial policies.