| IEA Participates in Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate |
| 20 October 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka provided inputs to the meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF), hosted by the UK government together with the US. The two-day meeting in London, which provides an opportunity for informal talks on climate change outside the official UNFCCC negotiations, involved 17 major economies together with countries particularly vulnerable to climate change, such as Algeria, Bangladesh, Lesotho, Costa Rica, Maldives, and Ethiopia. Mr. Tanaka gave a presentation focused on the findings of the special early excerpt on climate change of the World Energy Outlook 2009 and on the IEA’s energy technology roadmap work. See the presentation here. |
| IEA Ministerial in Paris | |
| 15 October 2009 The IEA has held its two-day Ministerial meeting in Paris on 14-15 October with the theme “Responding to Energy Challenges in Partnership”. Energy Ministers from the 28 IEA member countries met at OECD headquarters to share views on the key energy and environment challenges facing the world today. This year´s Ministerial coincided with the 35th anniversary of the IEA – an occasion for which IEA partner countries China, India and Russia were invited and participated for the first time together, along with three distinguished guest speakers, Dr. Henry Kissinger and Viscount Etienne Davignon - two key founders of the IEA - and Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). During the Ministerial, the IEA also launched two new publications. The IEA Scoreboard 2009: 35 Key Energy Trends over 35 Years assesses member countries’ progress in achieving their broad shared energy policy goals. Implementing Energy Efficiency Policies: Are IEA Member Countries on Track? similarly analyses to what degree IEA member countries have implemented the Agency’s 25 energy efficiency recommendations which could reduce worldwide CO2 emissions by 8.2 gigatonnes per year by 2030. In addition, a summary brochure of the first five IEA technology roadmaps, which focus on deployment of key energy technologies, was released. Full Ministerial coverage |
| Implementing Energy Efficiency Policies: -- Are IEA Member Countries on Track? | |
| 15 October 2009 Are IEA member countries doing enough to capture the full potential benefits from energy efficiency policy? This innovative book provides the first assessment of IEA member countries’ progress on implementing energy efficiency policy. Using a rigorous evaluation process, it finds that while these countries are implementing a full range of energy efficiency measures, their efforts fall short. Pressing energy, climate and financial challenges require even more energy efficiency policy action – particularly in the transport sector. To address this action gap, IEA member countries must urgently ramp up their energy efficiency policy efforts. To order, click here.... See also the Energy Efficiency webpage. |
| IEA Scoreboard 2009 -- 35 Key Energy Trends over 35 Years | |
| 14 October 2009 Released at the IEA Ministerial, the IEA Scoreboard 2009 is published in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of the IEA, 35 themes, ranging from diversification to prices, show how IEA countries have performed in their efforts to attain energy security, environmental protection and economic growth. This book, which combines statistical rigour with easy access and readability, should become a popular tool for policy makers, energy analysts and journalists. It is an ideal resource for anyone who would like to have a quick overview of energy development in IEA member countries over the last 35 years. The publication also includes selected energy-related statistics for over 140 countries, economies and regions in the world. To order, click here.... |
| IEA Releases Technology Roadmap to Achieve CCS Commercialisation | |
| 13 October 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka today released a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) roadmap at the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum Ministerial in London. The roadmap is designed to provide policy makers and industry with clear milestones and action items to achieve technology's greenhouse gas mitigation potential. Click here for the roadmap. See also clear milestones… |
| Contribution agreement with the EBRD | |
| 12 October 2009 IEA Executive Director Tanaka and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Thomas Mirow signed a contribution agreement at EBRD headquarters on 12 October. The agreement marks the beginning of closer cooperation between the two organisations in support of sustainable energy. The contribution agreement was for the Energy Efficiency Governance Project, led by the IEA Energy Efficiency Unit. |
| The new Japanese Government welcomes the IEA | |
| 8 October 2009 During a recent trip to Tokyo, IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka met the new Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Yukio Hatoyama. They held a broad-ranging discussion on matters relating to energy and climate change issues, including the policies of the new government. While in Tokyo, Mr. Tanaka also met with several new ministers, including Mr. Masayuki Naoshima, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. Katsuya Okada, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sakihito Ozawa, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Naoto Kan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Mr. Hirofumi Hirano, the Chief Cabinet Secretary. |
| IEA releases special early excerpt of the World Energy Outlook 2009 | |
| 6 October 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka released a special early excerpt of the World Energy Outlook 2009 at the Bangkok UNFCCC meeting entitled “How the energy sector can deliver on a climate agreement in Copenhagen”. The excerpt sets out the latest greenhouse-gas emissions trends, updated in light of the financial crisis, as well as detailing a pathway for the energy sector to achieve a transition to a low-carbon world. Download the Excerpt… See press release… |
| Expert Round Table on Energy Efficiency Indicators in the Residential Sector | |
| 28 September 2009 On 28-29 September 2009 the International Energy Agency, the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation (RosStat) and the Federal Agency for Science and Innovation (FASI) held an expert level round table on energy efficiency indicators in the residential sector in Moscow. See presentations… |
| IEA Releases Review of Spanish Energy Policy | |
| 28 September 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka travelled to Madrid to launch the new IEA publication, Energy Policies of Spain: 2009 Review. The report heralded Spain’s progress in leading gas diversification and developing wind and solar energy technology. It also noted the challenges Spain will face in achieving ambitious climate and energy security targets. Mr. Tanaka is pictured here with Spanish Energy Minister Miguel Sebastián. Read Mr. Tanaka's presentation… See press release… |
| IEA Welcomes CFTC Chairman Gensler | |
| 23 September 2009 Chairman Gary Gensler of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) spoke to the Agency’s Governing Board about the current CFTC initiative to IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka improve transparency on oil futures markets and strengthen U.S. financial regulation, focusing on the potential implications for energy markets. Chairman Gensler also met with IEA Executive and discussed greater co-operation to analyse the role of financial markets. This joint activity would build on previous IEA work, including the analysis of oil price formation in the recent Medium-Term Oil Market Report released this summer. |
| Energy Efficiency Working Party | |
| 16 September 2009 Delegates from twenty-five countries, including Brazil, took part in the 24th meeting of the Energy Efficiency Working Party. A representative from the Energy Charter also participated. Delegates exchanged energy efficiency policy insights and provided feedback on the work of the IEA Secretariat during the highly-successful two-day meeting. |
| Mr. Tanaka attends Asahi World Environment Forum 2009 | |
| 7 September 2009 IEA Executive Director, Nobuo Tanaka, attended the Asahi World Environment Forum 2009 in Tokyo on 7 September. Japanese Prime Minister-elect, Yukio Hatoyama, made the opening speech, announcing an ambitious climate change policy (see photo). In the ensuing panel discussion with Yvo de Boer (UNFCCC), Bjorn Stigson (WBCSD), Dadi Zhou (NDRC, China) and Masamitsu Sakurai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), Mr. Tanaka presented on the "Sustainable Future of Energy." |
| IEA Welcomes Two New Directors |
| 2 September 2009 This fall, two new senior officials with extensive energy and policy experience will join the IEA Secretariat. Mr. Ulrich Benterbusch of Germany will become the Director of the Office for Global Energy Dialogue and Mr. Bo Diczfalusy of Sweden will take charge as Director of Sustainable Energy Policy and Technology. Click here for more information… |
| IEA highlights importance of methane recovery |
| 5 August 2009 The IEA published a new report Methane Recovery and Use: The Importance of Policy, which highlights policies that have been used to advance methane projects in the oil and gas, landfill, coal mining and agricultural sectors. The report also highlights the performance of methane recovery projects in the Clean Development Mechanism and makes recommendations for greater international collaboration. |
| Informal Meeting of EU Energy and Environment Ministers in Are, Sweden | |
| 23 July 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka addressed the Informal Meeting of EU Energy and Environment Ministers in Are, Sweden. He called on Ministers to increase their efforts in the area of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is a critical element of an eco-efficient economy. Mr Tanaka emphasised not only the environmental and energy security benefits of energy efficiency, but also the potential for energy efficiency initiatives to create jobs and contribute to economic growth. Mr Tanaka addressed the meeting alongside Lord Nicholas Stern. |
| IEA visits model energy efficient and renewable energy house |
| 20 July 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka was invited to Brussels on 20 July to meet with H.R.H Prince Laurent of Belgium and visit Renewable Energy House. Prince Laurent is President of the Royal Institute for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Promotion of Clean Technologies. This foundation owns Renewable Energy House - a showcase for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Mr Tanaka got down and dirty and looked through everything from the double glazing retrofits to the photovoltaic panels and visiting the basement to see the wood-chip boilers in operation. |
| IEA at G8 Summit in l’Aquila/Italy |
| 8 July 2009 Attending the G8 Summit in l’Aquila/Italy, IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka participated at the G8+G5 lunch where he was greeted by U.S. President Barack Obama. Mr. Tanaka presented IEA analysis on energy efficiency progress in the G8, on technology roadmaps, including carbon capture and storage, and on the need to accelerate the spread of low-carbon technology. The IEA also issued a press release in a reaction to the G8 communiqué. |
| Head for new IEA Renewable Energy Division |
| 1 July 2009 As of 1 July 2009, the Renewable Energy Unit of the IEA has become the Renewable Energy Division (RED), reflecting the ongoing and increasing activity of the IEA in this field. The division will remain within the Directorate of Energy Markets and Security, under the directorship of Mr. Didier Houssin. Dr. Paolo Frankl, formerly Head of the Renewable Energy Unit, was selected as Head of the new Division. Prior to joining the IEA, he worked in academia and in a private research and consulting institute in Italy on renewable energy, Life Cycle Assessment and eco-labelling. A physicist by training, he holds a PhD in Energy and Environmental Technologies from the University of Rome. He was a Marie-Curie post-doctoral research fellow at INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France. |
| IEA Executive Director Shares Views with EPA Administrator Jackson | |
| 30 June 2009 IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson at EPA headquarters in Washington, DC. Amongst other matters, they discussed energy efficiency and low carbon technologies. |
