Energy intensity is expected to fall by 1.9pc this year
More work needed on energy efficiency – IEA
Improvement rate must double for net zero to be feasible, agency says
The rate of improvement in energy efficiency gains must double from current levels to be on a pathway consistent with reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, according to the IEA’s Energy Efficiency 2021 report. Energy intensity—a measure of the global economy’s energy efficiency—is expected to fall by 1.9pc this year, after falling by only 0.5pc in 2020. But this is still well below the 4pc annual fall required every year up to 2030 in the IEA’s net-zero emissions scenario. Government policies are expected to help energy efficiency investments rise by 10pc in 2021, to almost $300bn. However, overall annual investment would need to triple by 2030 to be consistent with levels foreseen in the IEA
Also in this section
24 April 2025
Liverpool Bay project on track for 2028 startup as Italian energy company reaches financial close with government for CO₂ transport and storage network
21 April 2025
Agreement on a two-tier emissions trading scheme does not go far enough to meet IMO GHG reduction targets, say observers
11 April 2025
As the global economy grows, demand for materials is expected to increase. The way materials are made could incorporate new technologies in the future to ensure economic growth is more sustainable
9 April 2025
AI is powering the Middle East & North Africa’s digital transformation, but can the region meet soaring energy demand sustainably? Small modular reactors may hold the key
