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Coal-fired power plant in South Africa

Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko / REUTERS

What to do in the fight against the climate crisis? In addition to generating more energy from renewable sources, the International Energy Agency (IEA) also advocates thinking more intensively about how and where energy could be used more sensibly – or, as economists say, more efficiently.

To meet climate targets, progress in energy efficiency must be doubled by 2030, according to the IEA. In this way, the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees could be kept within reach and at the same time the energy supply could be made more secure and affordable, the authority announced on Wednesday at a conference in Versailles. Increasing annual progress in energy efficiency from 2.2 percent today to over four percent by 2030 could lead to a decisive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

  • The IEA's original article can be found here: Doubling global pace of energy efficiency progress by 2030 is key step in efforts to reach net zero emissions

Benefits also for health

In addition, more energy efficiency creates jobs, reduces energy costs, air pollution and countries' dependence on fossil fuel imports. "Today, we see strong momentum in energy efficiency," said IEA Director Fatih Birol. "Countries that account for more than 70 percent of the world's energy consumption have introduced new or improved energy efficiency measures since the start of the global energy crisis over a year ago." Now it's a matter of shifting up a gear.

As the IEA report shows, more efficient and lower energy demand helps to accelerate progress towards universal access to modern and affordable energy in emerging and developing countries. The transition to efficient electrification through the gradual phase-out of traditional combustion of biomass such as charcoal and wood for heating and cooking also brings benefits – for example in terms of better air quality and health.

Among the participants of the three-day IEA conference are government representatives from over 30 countries and over 40 CEOs.

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