The Missing Guest: Energy Efficiency in the Multilateral Energy Arena
Briefings de l'Ifri, October 12, 2021
Since the 1970s, energy efficiency has gained visibility as a low hanging fruit – its potential impact on critical issues such as climate change, energy security, or competitiveness is now widely acknowledged, even more so in times of higher energy prices.
• The benefits of energy efficiency are proven. To name only one example, a recent study has shown that, at the European level, without energy efficiency polices from 1990 to 2013, energy-use would have been 12% higher in 2013.
• However, progress on energy efficiency is too slow and putting the world at risk of not reaching the sustainable development and Paris-Agreement climate goals.
• One of the reasons may be that, unlike renewable energy, energy efficiency has no dedicated multilateral organization and remains fragmented. The topic is handled by many diverse initiatives, agencies, and projects, without any “one-stop-shop”, and is not immune to competing agendas.
• Strengthening the existing multilateral institutional setting on energy efficiency is paramount, starting with the recently established Energy Efficiency Hub, and focusing on result-oriented and inclusive activities in a selection of countries with a high impact potential.
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The Missing Guest: Energy Efficiency in the Multilateral Energy Arena
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Center for Energy & Climate
Ifri's Energy and Climate Center carries out activities and research on the geopolitical and geoeconomic issues of energy transitions such as energy security, competitiveness, control of value chains, and acceptability. Specialized in the study of European energy/climate policies as well as energy markets in Europe and around the world, its work also focuses on the energy and climate strategies of major powers such as the United States, China or India. It offers recognized expertise, enriched by international collaborations and events, particularly in Paris and Brussels.
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