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International Energy Agency

Member countries Association countries Accession countries
Abbreviation	IEA
Established	18 November 1974; 50 years ago (1974-11-18)
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
Budget	€61.8m (2022)

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.

The IEA helps countries with their energy needs. 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 was a time when oil supplies were disrupted. The IEA's first goals were to:

Help make sure there was enough oil.
Collect information about the oil and energy markets.
Encourage people to save energy.
Work together on new energy technologies.

Since it began, the IEA has also helped manage oil reserves. Member countries must keep a certain amount of oil stored for emergencies.

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

A main job of the IEA 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 change. It also works to fight climate change. The goal is to reach net zero emissions. This means not adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. They also work to keep global temperatures from rising too much. All IEA member countries have agreed to the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to limit warming to 1.5°C. Many IEA member governments want to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The Embassy of Australia, Paris, where the IEA headquarters are located

The leader of the IEA is Fatih Birol. He became the Executive Director in 2015. The IEA publishes many reports. One important report is the annual World Energy Outlook. Another key report is Net Zero by 2050.

History of the IEA

The IEA was started on November 18, 1974. It was formed after the 1973 oil crisis. The goal was to prevent future energy problems. It aimed to ensure steady energy supplies. It also promoted energy efficiency. The IEA wanted to make energy secure. It also encouraged new energy research.

The rules for the IEA were set by the International Energy Program Agreement. This agreement made the IEA an independent group. It works under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 1996, the IEA moved its main office. It moved to a space inside the Embassy of Australia, Paris.

The IEA runs itself with its own budget. It started with 16 founding countries. Now, it has 31 member countries. Lithuania joined most recently in 2022. To be a full member, a country must also be part of the OECD. Members must also keep 90 days' worth of oil imports as emergency supplies. These emergency oil stocks can be used to help stabilize oil markets. 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 emergency oil releases, the IEA also works to:

Reduce how much countries rely on oil.
Develop other energy sources.
Support energy research and development.
Work with oil-producing countries to create a stable energy market.

Members are also expected to plan how to reduce energy use. These plans can be used during energy emergencies.

In September 2015, Fatih Birol became the Executive Director. He was the first person from inside the IEA to lead it. He was tasked with updating the agency. His goals were to:

Expand the IEA's focus on energy security beyond oil. This now includes natural gas and electricity.
Work more with developing countries through new partnerships.
Increase the IEA's focus on clean energy technology and energy efficiency.

In December 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed. After this, the IEA started to directly encourage the shipping industry. They wanted ships to use cleaner fuels instead of oil.

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

A new group called "Association countries" was created in 2015. This allows countries that don't meet all IEA membership rules to still work with the organization. China, Indonesia, and Thailand were the first to join. Now, the IEA has thirteen Association countries. Ukraine joined in July 2022. IEA member and Association countries together use over 75% of the world's energy.

In 2021, IEA chief 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." In 2022, Birol was chosen to lead the IEA for a third four-year term.

After the IEA's 2022 meeting, member countries expanded the IEA's mission. They added speeding up the global clean energy change. This means helping countries reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. This new mission also focuses on making energy more secure. It also highlights the importance of tracking critical minerals. These minerals are needed for the clean energy change.

Leadership

The IEA has had several leaders over the years. These leaders are called Executive Directors. They guide the agency's work.

Executive Directors of the International Energy Agency
No.	Name	Country of origin	Took office	Left office	Previous position
1	Ulf Lantzke	Germany	1975	31 March 1984	Special Advisor on Energy Issues to the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
2	Helga Steeg	Germany	1 July 1984	30 September 1994	Director-General for Trade, Federal Ministry of Finance of the Federal Republic of Germany
3	Robert Priddle	United Kingdom	1 December 1994	31 December 2002	Head of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, UK Department of Energy and Trade and Industry
4	Claude Mandil	France	1 February 2003	31 August 2007	Chairman and CEO of the Institut français du pétrole, 2000–2003
5	Nobuo Tanaka	Japan	1 September 2007	31 August 2011	Director for Science, Technology and Industry at the OECD, 1992–2007
6	Maria van der Hoeven	Netherlands	1 September 2011	31 August 2015	Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, 2007–2010
7	Fatih Birol	Turkey	1 September 2015	Incumbent	Chief Economist, International Energy Agency

How the IEA Works

The IEA has a few main parts that help it make decisions and do its work. These include the Governing Board, Ministerial Meetings, and different Standing Groups and Committees.

Governing Board

The Governing Board is the main decision-making group. It is made up of representatives from each member country. They meet about three to four times a year. This board is in charge of 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 member countries attend. They decide the overall direction of the IEA. These meetings help create new ideas. These ideas are then given to the Governing Board.

Standing Groups and Committees

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

Member Countries

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

Full Members

Only countries that are part of the OECD can join the IEA. Member countries must keep oil stocks. These stocks must be enough for at least 90 days of their past year's oil imports. Members agree to work together if there are big oil disruptions. This means releasing more crude oil into the market.

Country	Membership	Notes
Australia	1979
Austria	18 November 1974	Founding member
Belgium	18 November 1974	Founding member
Canada	18 November 1974	Founding member
Czech Republic	5 February 2001
Denmark	18 November 1974	Founding member
Estonia	9 May 2014
Finland	1992
France	1992
Germany	18 November 1974	Founding member
Greece	1976
Hungary	3 June 1997
Ireland	18 November 1974	Founding member
Italy	18 November 1974	Founding member
Japan	18 November 1974	Founding member
Latvia	?
Lithuania	2022
Luxembourg	18 November 1974	Founding member
Mexico	2018
Netherlands	18 November 1974	Founding member
New Zealand	1977
Norway	18 November 1974	Founding member (under a special Agreement)
Portugal	1981
Poland	25 September 2008
Slovakia	30 November 2007
South Korea	20 April 2001
Spain	18 November 1974	Founding member
Sweden	18 November 1974	Founding member
Switzerland	18 November 1974	Founding member
Turkey	18 November 1974	Founding member
United Kingdom	18 November 1974	Founding member
United States	18 November 1974	Founding member

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. Countries share information about how they meet membership rules.

The following countries are currently in the process of joining:

Association Countries

The "Association" group officially started in 2015 with 13 countries. The IEA works with these countries on many energy topics. They have joint projects. Association countries can also join most Standing Groups and Ministerial meetings. Egypt and Argentina joined as Association countries in March 2022. Ukraine was invited in June 2022 and joined in July 2022. Brazil started the process to become a member country in July 2025.

What the IEA Does

The IEA studies all kinds of energy sources and technologies. It looks at energy markets around the world. It also creates reports for specific countries. These reports focus on key technologies and minerals for clean energy. The IEA also collects lots of energy facts and figures for over 150 countries.

The IEA's work includes:

Giving policy advice.
Tracking energy progress.
Forecasting market trends.
Creating technology roadmaps.
Analyzing different energy futures.

Energy Data

The IEA publishes detailed facts and figures about energy. This information helps countries make energy plans. It also helps with long-term planning for energy investments. The IEA looks at trends in energy supply, demand, and prices. It also tracks public research and development in energy. It measures energy efficiency. This data helps track how countries are changing to clean energy.

The Policies and Measures Database (PAMS) is a public resource. It has information on government policies. These policies aim to reduce carbon emissions. They also support energy efficiency. They help develop and use renewable energy. This database combines data from the IEA and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). It goes back to 1999. It includes past, current, and planned policies.

Energy Scenarios

IEA reports use different scenarios to make predictions. These scenarios are based on different assumptions:

Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS): This assumes governments will carry out their current energy policies. It also assumes they will meet their promises to reduce greenhouse gases.
Announced Pledges Scenario (APS): This assumes the STEPS policies are followed. It also assumes countries will meet their less firm promises.
Net Zero Scenario (NZE): This shows how the world can reach net zero emissions by 2050. It aims to do this at the lowest cost. It also tries to meet important UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Key Reports

The IEA publishes many important reports each year.

World Energy Outlook (WEO) The World Energy Outlook is a leading source of strategic insight. It provides detailed analysis and forecasts for the global energy system. It covers all fuels, technologies, and regions. The WEO is a key guide for governments and businesses. It helps them understand energy trends and challenges.

Net Zero by 2050: a roadmap for the global energy sector This report was published in May 2021. It showed the first full plan for the world's energy sector. The goal was to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The report introduced the Net Zero Emissions scenario. It showed how to get to net zero. It also aimed to keep energy supplies safe and affordable. It worked to expand energy access. And it encouraged strong economic growth. The IEA and the Financial Times even made a game based on this report. Players compete to reduce emissions to net zero.

Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) First published in 2006, ETP is a guide about clean energy technology. It comes out every two years. The report looks at challenges and growth areas. It also highlights strengths of new clean energy technologies. It shows how they help with global energy and environmental policies.

Global EV Outlook (GEVO) GEVO is published every year. It is supported by the Electric Vehicles Initiative. This report looks at new developments in electric vehicles (EVs). It covers electric cars and other electric ways to get around. It includes past information and predictions up to 2030. Topics include charging stations, CO₂ emissions, and energy use. It also covers related policies. The report gives advice on how to encourage more people to use EVs.

Oil Market Report This report started in 1983. It comes out every month. It looks at the global oil market. It provides facts and predictions for people in the industry. It also helps government officials and academics. It analyzes oil trade and production in many countries.

Electricity Market Report This report gives regular predictions for global electricity. It covers demand, supply, and emissions. It also focuses on recent changes in the electricity market.

Gas Market Report The Gas Market Report is updated every three months. It provides the latest information and facts for global gas markets.

Energy Efficiency This is an annual report. It looks at global progress in energy efficiency. It shows how efficient appliances, buildings, and transport help reduce energy use. This also helps reduce emissions.

Renewable Energy Market Update This report looks at new additions to global renewable power. It also surveys the demand for biofuel. The report is updated several times a year. It discusses important factors and policies. These might affect future predictions.

World Energy Investment This annual report tracks money invested in energy. It looks at how investors see risks and chances. It covers all areas of fuel and electricity supply. It also looks at critical minerals, efficiency, and research.

Tracking Clean Energy Progress This report checks the status of 46 important energy technologies. These technologies are needed to reach net zero emissions by mid-century. It also gives advice on how to speed up their development.

Country Reviews Since 1976, the IEA has published detailed energy policy reviews. These reviews are usually done every five years for member countries. They cover all parts of a country's energy systems and policies. Recent reports have focused on progress towards climate goals. The most recent reports were on Norway, Poland, Belgium, and Canada. The IEA also reviews its accession and association countries.

Energy Efficiency Work

The IEA brings together policy leaders and others interested in energy efficiency. They work to increase progress in energy efficiency. This helps fight climate change. It also makes energy supplies more secure. And it helps economies and communities. The IEA has created Energy Efficiency Indicators. These are based on over ten years of data. They show what drives energy use in different countries. This helps track energy efficiency. It also helps improve national policies. The data covers major areas like homes, industry, and transport.

Clean Energy Transitions Programme

The Clean Energy Transitions Programme (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 brings people together and offers training. CETP has identified 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

As part of its energy transition work, the IEA has a Global Commission. This group focuses on "People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions." Its goal is to make sure the benefits and costs of changing our energy system are fair. It aims to protect the most vulnerable people. This approach focuses on:

Developing skills.
Creating jobs.
Protecting workers.
Economic growth.
Fairness and inclusion.
Involving individuals in the process.

The commission includes national leaders, government ministers, and community representatives. In October 2021, the Commission published a report. It gave twelve recommendations for a people-centered approach to clean energy.

Energy Sector Resilience to Climate Change

Climate change can affect energy security. So, the IEA also works to understand these impacts. It gives advice on how to make energy systems stronger. This includes looking at hydropower in different climate situations. It also has a report on climate dangers for power systems. This report suggests ways to make them more resilient. The IEA also provides an overview of climate dangers in its member countries. It offers plans and policies to help the energy sector deal with climate change.

Technology Collaboration Programs (TCPs)

TCPs support independent, international groups. These groups have experts from governments and industries. They research, develop, and sell energy technologies. They also work on related issues. Over 6,000 experts are involved in TCPs. They come from about 300 organizations in 55 countries. Examples of TCPs include:

Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC).
Photovoltaic Power Systems (PVPS).
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (HEV).