Ministers and senior officials from 47 nations have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing energy efficiency, citing its economic, social, and sustainability benefits.
During the IEA’s Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Brussels, they issued a joint statement emphasizing the critical role energy efficiency plays in providing affordable and secure energy, enhancing business competitiveness, and protecting national energy security.
Joint Statement Highlights
The group of governments explicitly noted that following the COP28 agreement to double energy efficiency progress by 2030, the time has come for impactful action.
They highlighted the importance of enhancing energy efficiency through effective policy implementation. The ministers pointed out that focusing on affordability, quality of life, and competitive advantage can accelerate progress towards their overarching goals, delivering maximum benefits promptly.
Insights from the 10th IEA Global Conference
The conference in Brussels hosted nearly 700 participants from about 100 countries
The conference in Brussels hosted nearly 700 participants from about 100 countries, including high-ranking ministers, CEOs, and representatives from youth and labor organizations. The event, chaired by European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, was supported by the Energy Efficiency Movement.
Statements from Key Leaders
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol emphasized the centrality of energy efficiency to energy security, noting the widespread consensus on its importance. "Energy efficiency is at the heart of energy security," he stated, adding that it serves as the "first fuel" for reducing bills, increasing competitiveness and security, and lowering emissions.
Echoing this sentiment, European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen described energy efficiency as a vital solution for challenges like energy security, affordability, and climate change. "The cleanest and cheapest energy is the energy we don't use," Jørgensen noted, pledging intensified efforts both domestically and globally.
Commitment to Inclusive Energy Transitions
The ministers pledged to keep people at the core of clean energy transitions, advocating for equitable and inclusive energy efficiency policies.
They also committed to leveraging innovation and digital technologies to maximize energy efficiency benefits, aiming to integrate digitalization across modern energy systems, including industrial facilities and buildings.
Resources and Future Plans
The conference also drew upon new IEA research and resources, including an updated Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit and other analytical work that underscores the competitive advantages of energy efficiency.
Ministers requested that the IEA continue its efforts to track progress in energy efficiency improvements through its Energy Efficiency Progress Tracker.
Countries around the world have backed the economic, social, and sustainability advantages of energy efficiency.
In a joint statement issued at the IEA’s Annual Global Conference on the issue in Brussels, ministers and senior officials representing 47 governments reaffirmed “the role energy efficiency plays to ensure affordable and secure energy services for our citizens, enhance competitiveness of our businesses, and safeguard the energy security of our nations.”
Joint statement
The governments that jointly issued the statement declared that “after the historic agreement at COP28 to double energy efficiency progress by 2030, now is the time to deliver greater impact through stronger collective and national actions, and technological improvements across all sectors.”
They also underscored “the need to strengthen energy efficiency action through implementation of effective policy” and identified “actions regarding affordability, better quality of life, and competitiveness that can deliver strong progress towards our overall goals while bringing the maximum benefits to all people as quickly as possible.”
10th IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
The statement followed from discussions at the 10th IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
The statement followed from discussions at the 10th IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, which convened almost 700 participants from close to 100 countries, including dozens of ministers and CEOs, as well as representation from youth and labor movements.
The Global Conference was co-chaired by European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, and was organized with the support of the Energy Efficiency Movement.
Energy efficiency
“Energy efficiency is at the heart of energy security,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “I’m encouraged by the unity on this among the many high-level participants at the IEA’s 10th Annual Global Conference on Efficiency, as demonstrated by the joint statement from nearly 50 governments from around the world.”
“There is broad agreement that both together, and as individual countries and companies, we can reap the benefits of what we at the IEA call ‘the first fuel’ – for lowering energy bills, bolstering competitiveness and energy security, and reducing emissions.”
Energy security
"Energy security, affordability, and climate change are among the defining challenges of our time,” said European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, who at the conference detailed the EU’s new impetus for energy efficiency.
“Energy efficiency is a key solution for all of them. This is why we will double down on our actions both at home and globally to make sure no energy unit goes to waste. The cleanest and cheapest energy is the energy we don't use.”
Clean energy transitions
In their statement, ministers pledged to place people at the center of clean energy transitions
In their statement, ministers pledged to place people at the center of clean energy transitions and to focus on energy efficiency policies that are fair, benefit everyone, and leave no one behind.
They also committed to “harness[ing] innovation and deploy[ing] digital technologies to maximize the benefits of energy efficiency – putting digitalization at the heart of our modern energy systems, and in particular our industrial facilities, buildings and electricity systems.”
Following on from the international Summit on the Future of Energy Security in London, ministers noted the importance of holistic approaches to energy security and recognized the importance of energy efficiency and demand-side measures in ensuring more secure energy.
Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit
They also acknowledged and drew upon new IEA research and tools including an updated Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit, new analysis on the benefits of efficiency, and the publication Gaining an Edge: The Role of Energy Efficiency in Enhancing Competitiveness. In addition, ministers asked the IEA to continue monitoring improvements in efficiency through its Energy Efficiency Progress Tracker.
