Dozens of governments have issued a joint statement agreeing to make energy efficiency a cornerstone of energy policy in recognition of its critical role in building resilience against future energy shocks, improving affordability for consumers and boosting economic competitiveness.
In the statement, governments called for stronger action on energy efficiency, including increased support for vulnerable households and businesses, renewed efforts to improve efficiency in buildings and data centres, and measures to unlock investment without creating unnecessary administrative burdens.
The statement was issued during international organisation the International Energy Agency's (IEA's) Eleventh Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, held in Montreal, Canada.
At the meeting, Ministers and senior officials said recent disruptions to global energy markets following the war in the Middle East had reinforced the need to accelerate energy efficiency as one of the quickest and most effective ways to lower energy costs, strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to future market volatility.
Recognising that vulnerable households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were often among the hardest hit by energy price volatility, governments committed to ensuring that all people could access the benefits of energy efficiency.
