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Plus, tackling methane emissions; what could unlock greater hydrogen investment; meetings with UK leaders; climate resilience in the Middle East and North Africa; and more…
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Newsletter of the International Energy Agency
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Executive Director meets with Chinese ministers in Beijing on energy & climate issues
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Our Executive Director Fatih Birol paid an official visit to China last week to advance our ongoing cooperation with the world’s second largest economy on a range of energy and climate issues. During his time in Beijing, Dr Birol held bilateral meetings with several ministers and other top government officials to discuss how to ensure energy security while accelerating efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
After a discussion on recent developments in energy markets, China’s Energy Minister Zhang Jianhua and Dr Birol signed a new three-year work programme, an important agreement that will further strengthen our cooperation with China on its clean energy transition. In a comprehensive meeting with China’s Special Climate Envoy Xie Zhenhua, Dr Birol discussed the prospects for this year’s COP28 climate summit and China’s clean energy progress, stating his expectation that the country’s emissions will peak well before the country’s current target of 2030.
Dr Birol also had a productive meeting with Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to boost cooperation on climate. He met with Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang to discuss the role of clean energy innovation in meeting energy and climate goals. And he spoke to students and faculty at Tsinghua University about China’s role in the global clean energy transition.
During his visit, Dr Birol was inducted into the prestigious Chinese Academy of Engineering at an official ceremony in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The honour of becoming a Foreign Academician is China’s highest international distinction in the fields of engineering, science and technology. The Academy cited his “distinguished services to energy, engineering, combating climate change and economics”.
Read more about this and our engagement with China, which joined the IEA Family in 2015, in our news article. And watch this video about Dr Birol’s visit to Beijing.
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Tackling methane emissions from the oil and gas industry
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Oil and gas companies have a responsibility to make stronger commitments to curb emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. One of the most important steps they can take is to reduce planet-warming methane emissions from their operations.
Our new report digs into the financial resources needed to deliver a sharp reduction in oil and gas methane emissions to 2030. That’s the year by which energy-related methane emissions need to fall by roughly 75%, according to our roadmap for achieving net zero emissions globally by 2050.
Some countries and companies have already demonstrated that achieving near-zero emissions from oil and gas operations is technically and economically possible. There are a growing number of initiatives, policies and regulations aiming to reduce emissions globally, and many reductions can be realised while saving money. However, overall progress has been much too slow, despite the record profits that the oil and gas industry made in 2022.
According to our analysis, just over $75 billion in spending is required to meet the 2030 target for cutting methane emissions from oil and gas operations. That’s less than 2% of the net income that the industry accrued last year.
Read the full report, which is intended to inform discussions in the run up to COP28. To find about more about methane emissions, explore our Global Methane Tracker. And for more on what the oil and gas industry can do to reduce its climate impact, take a look at our recent report on emissions from its operations.
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Clearer terminology could unlock investment in hydrogen
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Hydrogen could play a crucial role in decarbonising sectors such as heavy industry and long-distance transport in which tackling emissions is tough. But it remains far from fulfilling its potential, with demand confined to a few traditional applications and production of low-emissions hydrogen at a very early stage.
Our recent commentary explores one major obstacle to expanding hydrogen use: Existing terminology varies among stakeholders and countries, complicating trade and investment.
Right now, hydrogen is often categorised based on how it is produced, using words such as “sustainable” or “clean”. Even more common is the use of colours, such as “grey”, “blue”, “pink”, or “green” hydrogen. But there are no agreed definitions for these terms, and they can obscure many different levels of potential emissions.
An internationally agreed methodology for calculating the emissions intensity of hydrogen production could make a big difference, cutting financing costs, bringing greater visibility for investors and enabling greater economies of scale.
Read the commentary and take a look at the full report we produced on this issue earlier this year for Japan’s G7 Presidency.
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Working with the United Kingdom on energy and climate challenges
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Our Executive Director recently travelled to London to engage with ministers and other leading figures driving energy and climate policy.
Dr Birol met with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Energy Grant Shapps and former Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss a wide range of energy and climate topics, including the outlook for the coming winter and expectations for COP28.
He spoke to a packed room at Chatham House’s annual London Conference. The conversation ranged from the effects on the global energy system from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to the need for strong international cooperation to combat climate change.
And he sat down with the BBC’s agenda-setting Today programme. Dr Birol cautioned that gas prices could rise again this winter and urged government leaders to pursue energy-savings measures and accelerate the adoption of renewables.
Listen to the interview in full, which starts around 15 minutes and 30 seconds into the programme.
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To keep up with our very latest news and analysis, follow the IEA on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter) as well as our Executive Director Fatih Birol (LinkedIn, Twitter)
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The need for climate resilience in the Middle East and North Africa
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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is one of the regions most affected by climate change. That poses major challenges to its energy systems, which are already straining to meet the demands of economic growth, energy security and social welfare, according to our new commentary.
Between 1980 and 2022, temperatures across MENA increased 0.46°C per decade, well above the world average of 0.18°C. Rainfall patterns also changed significantly, aggravating existing water scarcity in some MENA countries.
These trends have major consequences for the region’s energy systems, underscoring the importance of climate resilience when developing energy transition plans.
The expansion of renewables such as solar PV and wind power would boost energy security by diversifying supply and lowering global emissions. At the same time, consideration should also be given to infrastructure design and efficiency improvements.
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Our Deputy Executive Director Mary Burce Warlick recently travelled to Copenhagen for a high-level roundtable discussion on the potential for renewable energy in rebuilding Ukraine’s energy sector. She delivered a keynote speech that touched on Ukraine’s work to boost the adoption of renewables, the need for a creative approach to financing, the role of the private sector and the IEA’s ongoing support of Ukraine. Speakers in the discussion included Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories & Infrastructure Development Yurii Vaskov and Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen.
Our Clean Energy Labour Council held its third meeting, chaired by Sharan Burrow, the former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, and Zingiswa Losi, President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions. Convened in 2022, this group focuses on the impact of clean energy transitions on jobs and the labour market, bringing together representatives of top trade unions to foster stronger dialogues on this important theme. Read more about our Labour Council.
We also recently held a two-day policy forum in Vilnius, Lithuania, to showcase the benefits of renewable heat solutions for improving energy security and meeting net zero goals. The event was attended by representatives from all Eastern Partnership countries of the EU-funded EU4Energy programme. Lithuanian Vice Minister of Energy Inga Žiliené provided the opening remarks, emphasising her country’s achievements in renewable district heating. Read the news article.
We’ve announced our 15th Energy Efficiency Policy Training Week, which will take place in person in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 2-5 October 2023. This event aims to build capacity among policy makers from emerging economies, equipping them with greater knowledge and skills to develop and implement effective energy efficiency initiatives in their respective countries. Those interested in participating can apply here.
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Tackling methane from oil and gas production is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our new report breaks down the investment needed to cut energy-related methane emissions 75% by 2030, in line with our pathway for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Read the report.
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