International Energy Agency facts for kids

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International Energy Agency

Member countries Association countries Accession countries
Abbreviation	IEA
Established	November 1974; 50 years ago (1974-11)
Type	Autonomous intergovernmental organisation
Headquarters	9, rue de la Fédération, Paris, France
Membership	31 member countries Australia Austria Belgium Canada Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Japan Lithuania Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom United States
Official languages	English
Executive Director	Fatih Birol
Deputy Executive Director	Mary Burce Warlick

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an important group based in Paris, France. It was started in 1974. The IEA gives advice, information, and facts about energy around the world. Its 31 member countries and 13 association countries use about 75% of the world's energy.

The IEA was created after the 1973 oil crisis. This crisis caused problems with oil supplies globally. The IEA's first goals were to help make sure there was enough oil. It also aimed to share information about the global oil market and energy sector. The IEA also wanted to encourage saving energy and working together on new energy ideas. Since it began, the IEA has also helped manage the oil reserves that its members must keep.

Over the years, the IEA's work grew. It now covers all types of energy. This includes traditional fuels like gas and coal. It also includes cleaner energy sources. These are solar power, wind power, biofuels, and nuclear power. The IEA also looks at hydrogen and the important minerals needed for these technologies.

The IEA's main job is to give advice to its member countries. This advice helps them have secure energy. It also helps them switch to clean energy. Recently, the IEA has focused on speeding up the clean energy switch. This helps fight climate change. It also helps reach net zero emissions. This means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air with the amount taken out. The goal is to keep global temperatures from rising too much. All IEA member countries have signed the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to limit warming to 1.5 °C.

Carré Suffren, the building where the IEA headquarters is located.

The current head of the IEA is Fatih Birol. He started in late 2015. The IEA publishes many reports. Its most famous one is the annual World Energy Outlook. It also published the Net Zero by 2050 report.

IEA History
IEA Leadership
How the IEA Works
IEA Membership
What the IEA Does
See also

IEA History

The IEA was started on November 18, 1974. This was right after the 1973 oil crisis. Its goal was to prevent future energy problems. It aimed to make sure energy supplies were reliable. It also wanted to promote energy saving. The IEA also worked to make energy secure. It encouraged research into new energy technologies.

The IEA was set up under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It operates on its own, with its own budget. The group started with 16 member countries. Now, it has 31 members. Lithuania joined most recently in 2022.

Full IEA members must also be members of the OECD. They must also keep enough oil to cover 90 days of their imports. These oil reserves can be used to help stabilize oil markets worldwide. They have been used five times:

January 1991, during the Gulf War.
2005, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
2011, during the Libyan crisis.
Twice in 2022, because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Besides releasing oil, the IEA's first jobs included reducing oil dependence. It also worked on developing other energy sources. It promoted energy research and development. It also worked with oil-producing countries to create a stable energy market. Members are expected to plan how to reduce energy use during emergencies.

In 2015, Fatih Birol became the executive director. He was the first person from inside the IEA to lead it. He aimed to update the agency in three main ways:

Expand energy security beyond oil to include natural gas and electricity.
Work more with developing countries through new partnerships.
Focus more on clean energy technology and energy efficiency.

IEA chief Fatih Birol called on policymakers to do more to speed up the energy transition and reduce emissions

In 2015, the IEA created "Association countries." This allowed countries that don't meet full membership rules to join the organization. China, Indonesia, and Thailand were the first. Now, there are thirteen Association countries. Ukraine joined in July 2022. IEA member and Association countries use over 75% of the world's energy.

In 2021, IEA chief Fatih Birol asked leaders to do more to speed up the clean energy change. He said that "Clean-energy technologies are slowly but surely going to replace the existing energy industry."

After the IEA's 2022 meeting, member countries expanded the IEA's goals again. They added speeding up the global clean energy change. This means helping countries reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This new plan also focuses on making energy secure. It also highlights the importance of tracking critical minerals for clean energy.

IEA Leadership

The IEA is led by an Executive Director. This person guides the agency's work.

The current Executive Director is Fatih Birol from Turkey. He started his role on September 1, 2015. Before this, he was the Chief Economist at the IEA.

How the IEA Works

The IEA has a few main parts that help it run. These include a Governing Board, Ministerial Meetings, and Standing Groups.

Governing Board

The Governing Board is the main group that makes decisions. It includes representatives from each member country. They meet a few times a year. This board handles the IEA's daily operations. It also approves important decisions about energy.

Ministerial Meetings

The IEA Ministerial Meeting happens every two years. Energy ministers from IEA countries attend. They decide the overall direction for the IEA's work. Their ideas are then given to the Governing Board.

Standing Groups

Standing Groups meet several times a year. They are made up of officials from member countries. The IEA has different groups. They focus on things like energy research, long-term cooperation, and preparing for energy emergencies.

IEA Membership

The IEA has 31 member countries and 13 association countries. Together, they account for 75% of the world's energy demand.

Member Countries

Only countries that are part of the OECD can join the IEA. Member countries must keep oil reserves. These reserves must be equal to at least 90 days of their past year's oil imports. They promise to work together if there's a big oil shortage. This means releasing more oil into the global market.

Accession Countries

Accession countries are those working to become full members. This process involves approval from the Governing Board. It also includes talks with the executive director. These countries share information about how they meet the membership rules.

Currently, these countries are in the process of joining:

Association Countries

The "Association" category started in 2015. It allows 13 countries to work closely with the IEA. These countries might not meet all the rules for full membership. The IEA works with them on many energy topics. They can also join most Standing Groups and Ministerial meetings. Egypt and Argentina joined in March 2022. Ukraine joined in July 2022.

What the IEA Does

The IEA studies all kinds of energy. It looks at global and regional energy markets. It also creates reports for specific countries. These reports focus on important technologies and materials for clean energy. The IEA also collects lots of data and facts for over 150 countries.

The IEA's work includes giving policy advice. It also tracks energy trends and makes market predictions. It creates plans for new technologies.

Energy Data

The IEA publishes detailed energy data and facts. This information helps countries create their energy plans. It also helps with long-term planning for energy investments. The IEA analyzes and shares data on energy supply, demand, and prices. It also tracks public research and development. It looks at how well countries are using energy. This data helps track energy changes over time.

The Policies and Measures Database (PAMS) is a public database. It has information on government policies and programs. These programs aim to reduce carbon emissions. They also support energy efficiency. They help develop and use renewable and clean energy. This database combines data from 1999 onwards.

Key IEA Publications

The IEA publishes many important reports. Here are some of them:

World Energy Outlook (WEO): This is a major annual report. It looks at global energy trends and what might happen in the future. It helps people understand the energy world.
Net Zero by 2050: a roadmap for the global energy sector: This report came out in May 2021. It showed a complete plan for the world's energy sector to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It explained how to do this while keeping energy secure and affordable. It also aimed to increase energy access and support economic growth.
Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP): This guide on clean energy technology is published every two years. It focuses on new clean energy technologies. It looks at their challenges, growth areas, and strengths. It also shows how they help with global energy and environmental policies.
Global EV Outlook (GEVO): This annual report looks at electric vehicles (EVs). It highlights new developments in EVs and electric transportation. It includes historical information and predictions up to 2030. It covers topics like charging stations, CO₂ emissions, and energy use. It also gives advice on how to encourage more people to use EVs.
Oil Market Report: This monthly report analyzes the global oil market. It provides data and predictions for industry, finance, and government officials.
Electricity Market Report: This report gives regular predictions for global electricity. It covers demand, supply, generation, and emissions.
Gas Market Report: This report is updated every three months. It provides the latest information and data for global gas markets.
Renewable Energy Market Update: This report surveys new additions in global renewable power. It also looks at the demand for biofuel. It is updated several times a year.

Energy Efficiency

The IEA focuses on energy efficiency. It brings together leaders and experts. They work to improve energy efficiency. This helps fight climate change and makes energy more secure. It also helps economies and communities. The IEA has created Energy Efficiency Indicators. These indicators use over ten years of data. They show what drives energy use in different countries. This helps track energy efficiency and improve national policies. The data covers homes, industries, and transportation.

Clean Energy Transitions Programme (CETP)

The CETP aims to "speed up global clean energy changes." It especially focuses on major developing countries. The program helps governments whose energy policies are key to the global energy change. It involves working together on analysis and technology. It also includes meetings and training. The CETP has chosen Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa as key countries. It also focuses on Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

People-Centered Clean Energy Transition

The IEA works to make sure the clean energy transition is fair. It wants to protect the most vulnerable people. This approach focuses on developing skills and creating jobs. It also looks at worker protections, economic growth, and fairness. It aims to include everyone in the process. A group of leaders and experts published a report in October 2021. It gave twelve recommendations for a people-centered approach to clean energy.

Energy Sector Resilience to Climate Change

The IEA also studies how climate change affects energy systems. It provides advice on how to make them stronger against these impacts. This includes looking at hydropower under different climate conditions. It also assesses climate dangers for power systems. The IEA provides an overview of climate hazards in its member countries. It also shares plans and policies to help the energy sector deal with climate change.