IEA presents energy efficiency push to make Russia’s gas, oil obsolete

(EurActiv, 8 Jun 2022) With the world facing an almost unprecedented energy crisis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) aims to once again put energy efficiency at the forefront of policymakers’ agenda.

During its 7th Global Energy Efficiency Conference hosted in Sonderborg, Denmark, the IEA has sought to convince policymakers worldwide of the merits of energy efficiency policies while providing a policy toolkit to go with it.

“Energy efficiency is a critical solution to so many of the world’s most urgent challenges,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director.

According to an IEA analysis presented during the conference, the world could achieve massive energy savings by the end of the decade through increased ambition while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions.

“Doubling the current global rate of energy intensity improvement to 4% a year” compared to today’s policies would save 95 exajoules a year, the current annual energy consumption of China, the IEA explained.

In concrete terms, that would result in savings of 30 million barrels of oil per day, triple Russia’s 2021 production. Additionally, the doubled ambition would cut fossil gas use by 650 billion cubic meters, four times the EU’s imports from the Kremlin.

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EurActiv, 8 Jun 2022: IEA presents energy efficiency push to make Russia’s gas, oil obsolete