View source for International Energy Agency

{{Short description|Autonomous intergovernmental organisation}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = International Energy Agency
| established = {{start date and age|1974|11|18|df=yes}}<ref name=:4/>
| logo = International Energy Agency (IEA) logo.svg
| logo_size = 180px
| map = IEA International Energy Agency Map.png
| abbreviation = IEA
| type = [[Intergovernmental organization|Autonomous intergovernmental organisation]]
| headquarters = 9, rue de la Fédération, [[Paris]], France
| membership = {{Collapsible list
 |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 |title = 31 member countries
 |{{flaglist|Australia}}
 |{{flaglist|Austria}}
 |{{flaglist|Belgium}}
 |{{flaglist|Canada}}
 |{{flaglist|Czech Republic}}
 |{{flaglist|Denmark}}
 |{{flaglist|Estonia}}
 |{{flaglist|Finland}}
 |{{flaglist|France}}
 |{{flaglist|Germany}}
 |{{flaglist|Greece}}
 |{{flaglist|Hungary}}
 |{{flaglist|Ireland}}
 |{{flaglist|Italy}}
 |{{flaglist|Japan}}
 |{{flaglist|Lithuania}}
 |{{flaglist|Luxembourg}}
 |{{flaglist|Mexico}}
 |{{flaglist|Netherlands}}
 |{{flaglist|New Zealand}}
 |{{flaglist|Norway}}
 |{{flaglist|Poland}}
 |{{flaglist|Portugal}}
 |{{flaglist|Slovakia}}
 |{{flaglist|South Korea}}
 |{{flaglist|Spain}}
 |{{flaglist|Sweden}}
 |{{flaglist|Switzerland}}
 |{{flaglist|Turkey}}
 |{{flaglist|United Kingdom}}
 |{{flaglist|United States}}
 }}
| languages = [[English language|English]]
| leader_title = [[#Leadership|Executive Director]]
| leader_name = [[Fatih Birol]]
| leader_title2 = Deputy Executive Director
| leader_name2 = [[Mary Burce Warlick]]
| budget = €61.8m (2022)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iea.org/about/structure|title=Structure - About - IEA|author=International Energy Agency|page=|date=2024-09-23|access-date=2024-10-12}}</ref> 
| website = {{official URL}}
| footnotes = 
| native_name = 
| msize = 
| mcaption = {{legend|#084081|Member countries|border=1px #000 solid;}}{{legend|#0868AC|Association countries|border=1px #000 solid;}}
{{legend|#41B6C4|Accession countries|border=1px #000 solid;}}
| motto = 
}}
The '''International Energy Agency''' ('''IEA''') is a [[Paris]]-based autonomous [[intergovernmental organization]], established in 1974, that provides policy recommendations, analysis and data on the global energy sector. The 31 member countries and 13<ref name="kenya-and-senegal">{{Cite web |title=Kenya and Senegal to join the IEA – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/kenya-and-senegal-to-join-the-iea |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=IEA |date=22 June 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref> association countries of the IEA represent 75% of global energy demand.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |title=History – About |url=https://www.iea.org/about/history |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The IEA was set up under the framework of the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD) in the aftermath of the [[1973 oil crisis]] to respond to physical disruptions in global oil supplies, provide data and statistics about the global [[Petroleum industry|oil market]] and [[Energy industry|energy sector]], promote energy savings and conservation, and establish international technical collaboration.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |title=Membership – About |url=https://www.iea.org/about/membership |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref> Since its founding, the IEA has also coordinated use of the oil reserves that its members are required to hold.

In subsequent decades, the IEA's role expanded to cover the entire global energy system, encompassing traditional fuels such as gas, and coal as well as cleaner and fast-growing energy sources and technologies including renewable energy sources; [[Photovoltaics|solar photovoltaics]], [[wind power]], [[biofuel]]s as well as nuclear power, and hydrogen, and the [[Critical mineral raw materials|critical minerals]] needed for these technologies.

The core activity of the IEA is providing policy advice to its member states and Associated countries to support their energy security and advance their [[Energy transition|transition]] to clean energy.<ref name=":1" /> Recently, it has focused in particular on supporting global efforts to accelerate clean energy transition, mitigate climate change, reach [[Carbon neutrality|net zero]] emissions, and prevent global temperatures from rising above 1.5&nbsp;°C.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web |date=27 January 2021 |title=IEA pins climate change goals on developing world transition |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-iea-idUSKBN29W1Q8 |work=IEA}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Investors step up pressure on global energy watchdog over climate change |url=http://news.trust.org/item/20191118073049-nsxvm |author1=Green, Matthew |author2=Ekblom, Jonas |date=2019-11-18 |access-date=2019-12-18 |publisher=[[Thomson Reuters]]}}</ref> All IEA member countries have signed the Paris Agreement which aims to limit warming to 1.5&nbsp;°C, and two thirds of IEA member governments have made commitments to emission neutrality by 2050.
[[File:AustralianEmbassyParis.jpg|thumb|The [[Embassy of Australia, Paris]], where the IEA headquarters are located]]
The IEA's current executive director is [[Fatih Birol]], who took office in late 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |date=7 March 2022 |title=Leadership |url=https://www.iea.org/about/leadership |access-date=19 May 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |date=25 March 2022 |title=IEA reappoints Fatih Birol for new term as Executive Director |url=https://www.iea.org/news/iea-reappoints-fatih-birol-for-new-term-as-executive-director |access-date=19 March 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref> IEA publishes a range of reports and other information including its flagship publication, the annual ''[[World Energy Outlook]]'', as well as the ''Net Zero by 2050'' report.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=24 March 2022 |title=2022 IEA Ministerial Communiqué – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/2022-iea-ministerial-communique |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=24 March 2022 |title=Press release |url=https://www.iea.org/news/at-iea-ministerial-meeting-global-energy-leaders-vow-to-strengthen-energy-security-and-accelerate-clean-energy-transitions |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2020 |title=World Energy Outlook 2020 |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2020 |access-date=8 March 2021 |website=International Energy Agency |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref>

== History ==
The IEA was founded on November 18, 1974, after the 1973 oil crisis, to avoid future shocks by helping to ensure reliable energy supplies, promote energy efficiency, ensure energy security and encourage technological research and innovation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Türk |first=Henning |year=2014 |title=The oil crisis of 1973 as a challenge to multilateral energy cooperation among Western industrialized countries |url=https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/40436 |journal=Historical Social Research |volume=39 (2014) |issue=2014 |pages=209–230 |issn=0172-6404 |doi=10.12759/hsr.39.2014.4.209-230}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

The [[Agreement on an International Energy Program]] (IEP Agreement) established the mandates and structure of the IEA, chartering it as an autonomous organisation under the umbrella of the [[OECD|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD).<ref name=":4" /> In 1996, the IEA relocated its headquarters from the [[Château de la Muette]], which it shared with the OECD, to commercially leased space located within the [[Embassy of Australia, Paris]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bamberger |first=Craig S. |date=March 2004 |title=History of the International Energy Agency, Volume 4 |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/ecce7786-26cc-45af-8b80-c4fb0bfc3ab7/4_ieahistory.pdf |publisher=International Energy Agency |pages=71 |access-date=24 June 2024 |isbn=92-64-01493-4}}</ref>

The IEA operates autonomously, with its own budget and governance structure. The organization began with 16 founding member countries<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Keohane |first=Robert O. |date=1978 |title=The International Energy Agency: State Influence and Transgovernmental Politics |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2706182 |journal=International Organization |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=929–951 |doi=10.1017/S0020818300032033 |jstor=2706182 |issn=0020-8183}}</ref> and has since expanded to 31, with the latest addition being Lithuania in 2022. Full members of the IEA must also be members of the OECD and are required to hold 90 days worth of oil imports as [[Global strategic petroleum reserves|emergency stocks]]. These emergency stocks can be released to stabilize oil markets worldwide and have been activated five times: January 1991 due to the [[Gulf War]], 2005 after devastation in the Gulf of Mexico from hurricanes [[Hurricane Katrina|Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]], 2011 during the [[Libyan Crisis (2011–present)|Libyan crisis]], and twice in 2022 in [[Government and intergovernmental reactions to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|response]] to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=3 May 2022 |title=Oil security – Energy security |url=https://www.iea.org/areas-of-work/ensuring-energy-security/oil-security |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In addition to the emergency release mechanism, the IEA's initial mandates include reducing dependence on oil, developing alternative energy sources, energy research and development, and collaboration with oil-producing companies and countries to create a stable energy market. Members are expected to draw up plans on demand reduction and efficiency measures that can be implemented during energy emergencies.

In 2015, the IEA's chief economist [[Fatih Birol]] was appointed executive director, the first time an official from within the organization was picked to lead it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=OECD |date=15 November 1974 |title=DECISION OF THE COUNCIL: Establishing an International Energy Agency of the Organisation |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/ba8c3ef8-f5b3-45db-86d2-719502e8d4ef/decesionofthecouncil.pdf |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref> They have a mandate to modernize the agency on three major pillars: broadening the IEA's mandate on energy security beyond oil to include natural gas and electricity; increasing engagement in emerging economies through new Association partnerships; and expanding the IEA's core focus on clean energy technology and energy efficiency.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-13 |title=Fatih Birol nommé à la tête de l'Agence internationale de l'énergie |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2015/02/13/fatih-birol-nomme-a-la-tete-de-l-agence-internationale-de-l-energie_4576189_3234.html |access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref>
[[File:Fatih Birol Opening Remarks (wne5883) (51716647955).jpg|thumb|IEA chief [[Fatih Birol]] called on policymakers to do more to speed up the [[energy transition]] and reduce emissions.]]
The new category of "Association countries" was created in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=18 November 2015 |title=Joint Ministerial Declaration on the occasion of the 2015 IEA Ministerial meeting expressing the Activation of Association |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/9e4b932e-b553-4f2c-86c3-d677eddbae72/IEA_Association.pdf |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref> allowing countries that do not fit the criteria for IEA membership to become affiliated with the organization and participate in its work.<ref>{{Cite news |title=India becomes associate member of International Energy Agency |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-becomes-associate-member-of-international-energy-agency/articleshow/57925914.cms |access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref> China, Indonesia, and Thailand were the first to join and the IEA now has thirteen<ref name="kenya-and-senegal"/> Association countries, including Ukraine since July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IEA and China deepen ties with extensive three-year work programme – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/iea-and-china-deepen-ties-with-extensive-three-year-work-programme |date= 16 February 2017 |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine to join the IEA as Association country – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/ukraine-to-join-the-iea-as-association-country |date= 16 June 2022  |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref> IEA member and Association countries represent over 75% of [[World energy supply and consumption|global energy consumption]].<ref name=":4" />

In 2021, IEA chief [[Fatih Birol]] called on policymakers to do more to accelerate the clean energy transition and [[Net zero emissions|reduce emissions]], saying that "Clean-energy technologies are slowly but surely going to replace the existing energy industry."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Meet the Man Who Defines the Energy Markets—And Wants the World to Go Clean |url=https://time.com/6109434/fatih-birol-interview-cop26/ |first1=Justin |last1=Worland |magazine=TIME |date=28 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=World at 'beginning of end' of fossil fuel era, says global energy agency |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9df6003b-3760-4eee-b189-92c0247fa1a5 |work=Financial Times |date=12 September 2023}}</ref>

After the IEA's 2022 Ministerial meeting, a bi-annual high-level meeting of IEA countries, member countries once again expanded the organisation's mandate to include accelerating the global clean energy transition by "supporting countries in the global effort to attain net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector by mid-century."<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> The "IEA 3.0" mandate also doubles down on strengthening energy security and recognizes the importance of tracking critical minerals and materials to the clean energy transition.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

== Leadership ==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:left;"
|+ style="padding-top:1em;" |Executive Directors of the International Energy Agency
!No.
!Name
!Country of origin
!Took office
!Left office
!Previous position
!Ref.
|-
|1
|[[Ulf Lantzke]]
|{{flag|Germany}}
|1975
|31 March 1984
|Special Advisor on Energy Issues to the Secretary General of the [[OECD|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)
|<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |date=10 May 2022 |title=History |url=https://www.iea.org/about/history |access-date=17 May 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Richard |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/b73b0800-ed54-48ba-bf16-cc6820b723a3/1ieahistory.pdf |title=The History of the International Energy Agency, 1974–1994 |publisher=International Energy Agency |year=1994 |volume=1 |location=Paris |pages=263}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Entry: Lantzke, Ulf |url=http://www.munzinger.de/document/00000016093 |access-date=17 May 2022 |publisher=Munzinger Online/Personen – Internationales Biographisches Archiv |location=Ravensburg, Germany |language=German}}</ref>
|-
|2
|[[Helga Steeg]]
|{{flag|Germany}}
|1 July 1984
|30 September 1994
|Director-General for Trade, [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Federal Ministry of Finance]] of the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]]
|<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":12">Scott, vol. 1, p. 260</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Long |first1=Russell B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Na6ShnC3P2cC |title=Consensus or Confrontation: International Economic Policy at the Crossroads |last2=Ribicoff |first2=Abe |collaboration=U.S. Senate committee on Finance, Subcommittee on International Trade |publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]] |year=1975 |publication-place=Washington, DC |pages=2}}</ref><ref name=":22">Scott, vol. 4, p. 66</ref>
|-
|3
|[[Robert Priddle]]
|{{flag|United Kingdom|}}
|1 December 1994
|31 December 2002
|Head of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|UK Department of Energy and Trade and Industry]]
|<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |date=17 January 2003 |title=Claude Mandil Elected Executive Director of the IEA |url=https://www.iea.org/news/claude-mandil-elected-executive-director-of-the-iea |access-date=17 May 2022 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref>
|-
|4
|[[Claude Mandil]]
|{{flag|France}}
|1 February 2003
|31 August 2007
|Chairman and CEO of the [[French Institute of Petroleum|Institut français du pétrole]], 2000–2003<ref name=":32" />
|<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":32" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2006 |title=M. Nobuo TANAKA succèdera à M. Claude MANDIL à la tête de l'AIE |trans-title=Mr. Nobuo Tanaka will succeed Mr. Claude Mandil as head of the IEA |url=https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/2136.php4 |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Actu-Environnement |language=fr}}</ref>
|-
|5
|[[Nobuo Tanaka]]
|{{flag|Japan}}
|1 September 2007
|31 August 2011
|Director for Science, Technology and Industry at the OECD, 1992–2007<ref name=":03"/>
|<ref name=":03"/><ref name="iea">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.iea.org/files/ED_press.pdf |title=Nobuo Tanaka nominated to succeed Claude Mandil as IEA Executive Director in September 2007 |publisher=IEA |date=2006-12-14 |access-date=2011-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112080747/http://iea.org/files/ED_press.pdf |archive-date=2011-11-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id=1874 |title=Former Dutch Minister Maria van der Hoeven Named Next Executive Director of the IEA to Start in September 2011 |publisher=International Energy Agency |date=2011-03-11 |access-date=2011-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220042628/http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id=1874 |archive-date=2011-12-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|6
|[[Maria van der Hoeven]]
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|1 September 2011
|31 August 2015
|[[Minister of Economic Affairs (Netherlands)|Minister of Economic Affairs]] of the Netherlands, 2007–2010
|<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":42" />
|-
|7
|[[Fatih Birol]]
|{{flag|Turkey}}
|1 September 2015
|''Incumbent''
|Chief Economist, International Energy Agency
|<ref name=":03"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bezat |first=Jean-Michel |date=13 February 2015 |title=Fatih Birol nommé à la tête de l'Agence internationale de l'énergie |language=French |trans-title=Fatih Birol nominated to head the International Energy Agency |work=[[Le Monde]] |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2015/02/13/fatih-birol-nomme-a-la-tete-de-l-agence-internationale-de-l-energie_4576189_3234.html |access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref>
|}

== Structure ==
The IEA's structure includes a Governing Board, Ministerial Meetings, and Standing Groups and Committees.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |title=Structure – About |url=https://www.iea.org/about/structure |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA}}</ref>

The Governing Board constitutes the main decision-making body of the organisation. It is composed of member country representatives and meets three to four times a year.<ref name=":6" /> The Governing Board is responsible for the IEA's administrative proceedings and approving binding decisions in relation to energy developments.<ref name=":6" />

The IEA Ministerial Meeting is the biennial gathering of energy ministers who determine the broad direction of the IEA.<ref name=":6" /> The Ministerial allows for the development of ideas which are subsequently put to the Governing Board.<ref name=":6" />

Standing Groups meet multiple times a year and are made up of officials from member states. The IEA has several Standing Groups and Committees, focusing on energy research and technology, long-term cooperation, emergency preparedness, and other topics.<ref name=":6" />

== Membership ==
The 31 member countries and 13<ref name="kenya-and-senegal"/> association countries of the IEA represent 75% of global energy demand.<ref name=":4" />

=== Member countries ===
Only [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] member states may join the IEA. Member are required to maintain total [[Global strategic petroleum reserves|oil stock]] levels equivalent to at least 90 days of the previous year's net imports.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IEA marks historic day in global energy governance with first member country in Latin America – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/iea-marks-historic-day-in-global-energy-governance-with-first-member-country-in-latin-america |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=18 February 2018 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Member countries commit to respond to significant oil disruptions through a collective action to allow more [[crude oil]] to enter the global market.<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 0.95em;"
! style="width:115px;" |Country
!Membership
!Notes
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Australia}}
| align="right" |1979<ref name=":03"/>
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Austria}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Richard |title=The History of the IEA, 1974–1994: The First 20 Years |publisher=International Energy Agency |year=1994 |location=Paris |pages=67}}</ref>
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Belgium}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Canada}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Czech Republic}}
| align="right" |5 February 2001<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Denmark}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Estonia}}
| align="right" |9 May 2014
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Finland}}
| align="right" |1992<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|France}}
| align="right" |1992<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Germany}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Greece}}
| align="right" |1976<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Hungary}}
| align="right" |3 June 1997<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Ireland}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Italy}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Japan}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Lithuania}}
| align="right" |2022
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Luxembourg}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Mexico}}
| align="right" |2018
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Netherlands}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|New Zealand}}
| align="right" |1977<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Norway}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member (under a special Agreement)<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Portugal}}
| align="right" |1981<ref name=":03" />
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Poland}}
| align="right" |25 September 2008<ref>{{Cite web |title=AGENCE EUROPE – Poland becomes 28th member country of the IEA |url=https://www.iea.org/news/poland-becomes-28th-member-country-of-the-iea |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=iea.org|date=25 September 2008 }}</ref>
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Slovakia}}
| align="right" |30 November 2007<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slovak Republic to become 27th member of the IEA |url=https://www.iea.org/news/slovak-republic-to-become-27th-member-of-the-iea |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=UPI |date=30 November 2007 |language=en}}</ref>
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|South Korea}}
| align="right" |20 April 2001<ref>{{Cite web |last=International Energy Agency |author-link=International Energy Agency |date=20 April 2001 |title=Korea Joins International Energy Agency; Becomes IEA's Twenty-Sixth Member |url=https://www.iea.org/news/korea-joins-international-energy-agency-becomes-ieas-twenty-sixth-member |access-date=2022-05-25 |publisher=IEA |location=Paris}}</ref>
|
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Spain}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Sweden}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Switzerland}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|Turkey}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{nowrap|{{flag|United Kingdom}}}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |{{flag|United States}}
| align="right" |18 November 1974<ref name=":5" />
|Founding member<ref name=":03" />
|}

=== Accession countries ===
Accession countries are those going through the process of becoming full members. The process involves authorisation by the Governing Board, discussions with the executive director, and the sharing of information related to the criteria for membership with the Secretariat.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Richard |url=https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/b73b0800-ed54-48ba-bf16-cc6820b723a3/1ieahistory.pdf |title=The History of the International Energy Agency, 1974–1994 |publisher=International Energy Agency |year=1994 |volume=1 |location=Paris |pages=336}}</ref>

The following countries are currently undergoing the accession process:

* {{Flag|Chile}}
* {{Flag|Colombia}}
* {{Flag|Costa Rica}}
* {{Flag|Israel}}
* {{Flag|Latvia}}

=== Association countries ===
Association was formally launched in 2015 and currently includes 13<ref name="kenya-and-senegal"/> countries. The IEA collaborates with Association countries on a wide range of energy-related issues determined through joint programmes of work. Association countries may also participate in most Standing Groups and Ministerial meetings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singapore becomes IEA Association Country – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/singapore-becomes-iea-association-country |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=24 October 2016 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Egypt and Argentina joined as Association countries in March 2022,<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2022 |title=Argentina joins the International Energy Agency as a member – the Canadian News |url=https://thecanadian.news/argentina-joins-the-international-energy-agency-as-a-member/}}</ref> and Ukraine was formally invited on 16 June 2022, and joined in July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine signs association pact with the IEA |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/19/ukraine-association-pact-international-energy-agency-iea |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>
: {{Flag|Argentina}}
: {{Flag|Brazil}}
: {{Flag|China}}
: {{Flag|Egypt}}
: {{Flag|India}}
: {{Flag|Indonesia}}
: {{Flag|Kenya}}
: {{Flag|Morocco}}
: {{Flag|Senegal}}
: {{Flag|Singapore}}
: {{Flag|South Africa}}
: {{Flag|Thailand}}
: {{Flag|Ukraine}}

== Areas of work ==
The IEA produces analyses on all energy sources and technologies, on global and regional markets, as well as specific country-level reports and studies on key technologies, minerals, and materials for the clean energy transition. It also produces comprehensive data and statistics for over 150 countries.

The IEA's analytical work is split into various categories including policy recommendations, tracking, market forecasts, technical roadmapping, and scenario analysis.

=== Data ===
The IEA publishes comprehensive data, statistics, and analysis that inform national energy policies and support long-term planning for energy sector investments. The IEA analyses and releases data and information on trends in energy supply, demand, prices, public [[research and development]], and [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] metrics. The data also serves to track short- and long-term trends in countries energy transitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Data overview |url=https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The Policies and Measures Database (PAMS) makes available to the public data on government policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions, support energy efficiency, and improve the development and use of renewable and clean energy sources. The database compiles data from several IEA and [[International Renewable Energy Agency]] (IRENA) data sources dating back to 1999 and includes information on past, current, and planned policy measures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policy database – Data & Statistics |url=https://www.iea.org/policies/about |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Scenarios ===
IEA publications give projections based on sets of assumptions called ''scenarios''. Currently-used scenarios include:

* Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS): Assumes implementation of governments' existing policies and firm commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS) – Global Energy and Climate Model – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-and-climate-model/stated-policies-scenario-steps |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* Announced Pledges Scenario (APS): Assumes implementation of policies as in the STEPS, and also assumes fulfillment of looser pledges that are not yet backed by policy and legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Announced Pledges Scenario (APS) – Global Energy and Climate Model – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-and-climate-model/announced-pledges-scenario-aps |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* Net Zero Scenario (NZE): Assumes implementation of the IEA's pathway to [[net zero]] emissions by 2050 while minimising cost and meeting key [[UN Sustainable Development Goals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE) – Global Energy and Climate Model – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-and-climate-model/net-zero-emissions-by-2050-scenario-nze |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":8" />
Older scenarios include:

* 450 Scenario: Environmental groups have become critical<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-06 |title=Beyond 450: Why the IEA's "Climate Scenario" Falls Short |url=http://priceofoil.org/2016/04/06/beyond-450-why-the-iea-climate-scenario-falls-short/ |website=Oil Change International |first1=Greg |last1=Muttitt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930231218/https://priceofoil.org/2016/04/06/beyond-450-why-the-iea-climate-scenario-falls-short/ |archive-date= Sep 30, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2016 |title=Modelling for climate success |url=http://priceofoil.org/content/uploads/2016/11/IEA-open-letter-modelling-for-climate-success-August-12-2016.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112132846/http://priceofoil.org/content/uploads/2016/11/IEA-open-letter-modelling-for-climate-success-August-12-2016.pdf |archive-date=Jan 12, 2024 |website=Oil Change International }}</ref> of the IEA's 450 Scenario (created to align with the 2009 Copenhagen Accord), contending it does not align with up-to-date climate science, nor is it consistent with the Paris climate agreement that aspires to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In March 2017, the IEA (along with IRENA) published a report<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Perspectives for the energy transition |url=http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/Perspectives_for_the_Energy_Transition_2017.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716220944/http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/Publications/Perspectives_for_the_Energy_Transition_2017.pdf |archive-date=Jul 16, 2020 |publisher=OECD/IEA and IRENA}}</ref> that considers a safer climate scenario than their current 450S. This scenario offers improved chances of limiting global warming to less than two degrees, but – according to research organization Oil Change International – still falls short of adequately addressing climate science and the [[Low-carbon economy|decarbonization]] required to reach agreed upon global climate limits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-05 |title=OFF TRACK: The IEA and Climate Change |url=http://priceofoil.org/2018/04/04/off-track-the-iea-and-climate-change/ |first1=Greg |last1=Muttitt  |access-date=2019-12-18 |website=Oil Change International |language=en-US}}</ref> The IEA has stopped updating this safer climate scenario
* Sustainable Development Scenario: Concerns regarding the IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario (the successor to the 450 scenario) has also been raised by climate scientists and key financial institutions, who have called for 1.5°C scenario placed centrally in the World Energy Outlook.<ref name=:0/> The IEA's Sustainable Development Scenario only gets to net-zero by 2070, two decades too late.

=== Key publications ===
'''[[World Energy Outlook]]''' (WEO)
{{Excerpt|World Energy Outlook|paragraphs=1, 2}}

[[File:Renewables 2022.pdf|thumb|right|A 2022 report on [[renewable energy]]]]
'''Net Zero by 2050: a roadmap for the global energy sector'''

Net Zero by 2050 was published in May 2021 and presented the first comprehensive pathway for the global energy sector to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The report introduced the Net Zero Emissions scenario, showing how to transition to net zero by 2050 while maintaining secure and affordable energy supplies, extending energy access, and encouraging robust economic growth. The report was the basis for a game created by the IEA and the [[Financial Times]] in which players compete to see if they can reduce emissions to net zero.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Climate Game — Can you reach net zero? |url=https://ig.ft.com/climate-game |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=FT |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Net Zero by 2050 – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050 |date=May 2021 |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

'''[[Energy Technology Perspectives]]''' (ETP) 

First issued in 2006, ETP is a bi-annual guidebook on clean energy technology. The publication focuses on challenges, growth areas, and strengths of emerging clean energy technologies and their contribution to global energy and environmental policy-making.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy Technology Perspectives – Topics |url=https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-technology-perspectives |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

'''Global EV Outlook''' (GEVO)

Published annually with the support of the members of the Electric Vehicles Initiative, GEVO highlights and analyses recent developments in EVs and electric mobility. The publication combines historical analysis with projections to 2030 for topics such as charging infrastructure, {{CO2}} emissions, energy use, and related policy developments. The report includes policy recommendations to advance EV adoption.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global EV Outlook 2022 – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2022 |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=23 May 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

'''Oil Market Report'''

First published in 1983, the monthly Oil Market Report analyses the global oil market, providing data and forecasts aimed for an audience of industry, financial, and government officials as well as an academic and NGO audience. Country specific analysis on trade and production tracks both OECD and non-OECD states.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oil Market Report – Topics |url=https://www.iea.org/topics/oil-market-report |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

'''Electricity Market Report'''

The Electricity Market Report provides regular forecasts for global electricity demand, supply, generation and emissions, with a special focus on recent developments.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Areas of work |url=https://www.iea.org/areas-of-work |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

'''Gas Market Report'''

The Gas Market Report is updated quarterly, providing the latest developments and data for global gas markets.<ref name=":7" />

'''Energy Efficiency'''

Energy Efficiency is an annual report on global progress and developments in the crucial role that efficient appliances, equipment, buildings, transport and industry play in reducing energy use and the resulting emissions.<ref name=":7" />

'''Renewable Energy Market Update'''

The Renewable Energy Market Update surveys new additions in global renewable power capacity and demand for biofuel. The report, which is updated several times a year, also discusses important variables and policy implications that may affect projections for the years to come.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Renewable Energy Market Update – May 2022 – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/renewable-energy-market-update-may-2022 |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=11 May 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

'''World Energy Investment'''

The annual World Energy Investment tracks investment across the energy world, examining how investors are assessing risks and opportunities across all areas of fuel and electricity supply, critical minerals, efficiency and research and development.<ref name=":7" />

'''Tracking Clean Energy Progress'''

TCEP reports on the status of 46 critical energy technologies and sectors needed to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century, and provides recommendations on how to accelerate their development and deployment.<ref name=":7" />

'''Country Reviews'''

Since 1976, the IEA has published in-depth energy policy reviews. These country policy reviews are typically conducted every five years for member countries, and cover the full range of the country's energy systems and policies, with recent reports placing particular focus on progress towards reaching climate goals. The most recent reports were on Norway, Poland, Belgium, and Canada. The IEA also produces in-depth energy reviews of its accession and association countries, as well as partner countries.<ref name=":7" />

=== Energy Efficiency ===
In its focus on energy efficiency, the IEA convenes policy leaders and other stakeholders with an eye toward scaling up progress on energy efficiency as a way to mitigate climate change, contribute to energy security, and deliver economic, and support economies and communities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy efficiency – Topics |url=https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-efficiency |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref> The IEA has created Energy Efficiency Indicators based on over ten years of data to highlight the drivers of individual nations' energy use in order to track energy efficiency and improve national policies. The data covers major sectors such as residential services, industry, and transport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy Efficiency Indicators: Overview – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-efficiency-indicators-overview |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Clean Energy Transitions Programme ===
CETP's focus is to "accelerate global clean energy transitions, particularly in major emerging economies." The program supports governments whose energy policies will be key to the global energy transition and involves collaborative analytics, technology cooperation, stakeholder convenings, and training and capacity-building. CETP has identified Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa as priority countries as well as the regions of Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clean Energy Transitions Programme – Programmes |url=https://www.iea.org/programmes/clean-energy-transitions-programme |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Clean Energy Transitions Programme – Programmes and partnerships |url=https://www.iea.org/areas-of-work/programmes-and-partnerships/clean-energy-transitions-programme |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== People-Centered Clean Energy Transition ===
As part of its work on the energy transition, the IEA convenes the Global Commission for People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions to "ensure the benefits and costs involved in the transformation of our energy system are distributed fairly and in a way that protects the most vulnerable in society." The approach focuses on skill development, jobs, worker protections, economic development, equity and fairness, social inclusion, and engaging individuals as stakeholders in the process.<ref name="iea.org">{{Cite web |title=Recommendations of the Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/recommendations-of-the-global-commission-on-people-centred-clean-energy-transitions |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=26 October 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The commission is composed of national leaders, government ministers, and representatives from civil society. In October 2021, the Commission published a report for twelve recommendations for a people-centered approach to the clean energy transition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Commission of government leaders and prominent figures announces key recommendations for putting people at the centre of clean energy transitions – News |url=https://www.iea.org/news/global-commission-of-government-leaders-and-prominent-figures-announces-key-recommendations-for-putting-people-at-the-centre-of-clean-energy-transitions |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=26 October 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="iea.org"/>

=== Resilience of the Energy Sector to Climate Change Impacts ===
Given the implications of climate change impacts for energy security, the IEA also works to understand climate impacts on energy systems and provide guidance on measures to improve their resilience to these impacts. This includes an assessment of hydropower under different climate scenarios<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Impacts on Latin American Hydropower – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-impacts-on-latin-american-hydropower |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=29 January 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate impacts on African hydropower – Climate Impacts on African Hydropower – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-impacts-on-african-hydropower/climate-impacts-on-african-hydropower |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Impacts on South and Southeast Asian Hydropower – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-impacts-on-south-and-southeast-asian-hydropower |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=20 December 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and a report focused on climate hazards for power systems and measures to enhance their climate resilience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Resilience – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-resilience |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=12 April 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The IEA also provides an overview of the level of climate hazards in its member countries, along with key planning and policy documents to address energy sector climate resilience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate Resilience Policy Indicator – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/climate-resilience-policy-indicator |access-date=2022-07-23 |website=IEA |date=10 June 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Technology Collaboration Programs (TCPs) ===
TCPs provide support to independent, international groups of government and industry experts to research, develop, and commercialise energy technologies and related issues. Over 6,000 experts are involved in TCPs across approximately 300 organisations in 55 countries. Examples of TCPs include the Energy in Buildings and Communities (EBC), [[Photovoltaic power systems|Photovoltaic Power Systems]] (PVPS), and Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (HEV).

== Criticism ==

=== Bias against renewable energy ===
[[File:Reality_versus_IEA_predictions_-_annual_photovoltaic_additions_2002-2016.png|thumb|Real development of global [[photovoltaics]] additions vs. predictions by the IEA, 2002–2016]]
The IEA has been criticised for systematically underestimating the role of [[renewable energy]] sources in future energy systems such as [[photovoltaics]] and their cost reductions.<ref>[[Felix Creutzig]] et al.: The underestimated potential of solar energy to mitigate climate change. In: Nature Energy 2, 2017, [[doi:10.1038/nenergy.2017.140]]</ref><ref>Auke Hoekstra et al.: Creating Agent-Based Energy Transition Management Models That Can Uncover Profitable Pathways to Climate Change Mitigation. In: [[Complexity]]. 2017, [[doi:10.1155/2017/1967645]]</ref><ref>Konrad Mertens: ''Photovoltaik: Lehrbuch zu Grundlagen, Technologie und Praxis''. 4. edition, Hanser, (Munich) p. 340.</ref>

In the past, the IEA has been criticized by [[environmental group]]s for underplaying the role of [[renewable energy]] technologies in favor of [[Nuclear power|nuclear]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nuclear Institute Login – Register |url=http://www.nuclearinst.com/International}}</ref> and [[fossil fuel]]s.<ref name="henning">{{cite web |author=Henning Gloystein |date=2011-11-23 |title=Renewable energy becoming cost competitive, IEA says |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-energy-iea-renewables-idUSTRE7AM0OV20111123 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> In 2009, [[Guy Pearse]] stated that the IEA has consistently underestimated the potential for renewable energy alternatives.<ref>Guy Pearse (2009). "Quarry Vision", ''[[Quarterly Essay]]'', Issue 33, p. 93.</ref>

The [[Energy Watch Group]] (EWG), a coalition of scientists and politicians which analyses official [[energy industry]] predictions, claims that the IEA has had an institutional bias towards traditional energy sources and has been using "misleading data" to undermine the case for renewable energy, such as [[wind]] and solar. A 2008 EWG report compares IEA projections about the growth of [[wind power]] capacity and finds that it has consistently underestimated the amount of energy the [[wind power industry]] can deliver.<ref name="ie">{{Cite web |date=12 January 2009 |title=IEA accused of "deliberately" undermining global renewables industry |url=http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2233776/iea-accused-deliberately}}</ref>

For example, in 1998, the IEA predicted global wind electricity generation would total 47.4 GW by 2020, but EWG's report states that this level was reached by the end of 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wind Power in Context – A clean Revolution in the Energy Sector p. 10. |url=http://www.energywatchgroup.org/fileadmin/global/pdf/2009-01_Wind_Power_Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124172640/http://www.energywatchgroup.org/fileadmin/global/pdf/2009-01_Wind_Power_Report.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2009}}</ref> The report also said that the IEA has not learned the lesson of previous underestimates, and last year net additions of wind power globally were four times greater than the average IEA estimate from its 1995–2004 predictions.<ref name="ie" /> This pattern seems to have continued through 2016.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Drum |first=Kevin |date=22 May 2017 |title=In 2002, the IEA Predicted Solar Was Going Nowhere. And in 2003. And 2004. And 2005… |url=https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/05/2002-iea-predicted-solar-was-going-nowhere-and-2003-and-2004-and-2005 |journal=Mother Jones |access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>

Amid discontent from across the renewables sector at the IEA's performance as a global energy watchdog, the [[International Renewable Energy Agency]] was formed on January 26, 2009. The aim is to have the agency fully operational by 2010 with an initial annual budget of €25M.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 2009 |title=International Renewable Energy Agency launches today |url=http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2234994/international-renewables-agnecy}}</ref>

The IEA's current forecasts for solar power do not accord with the exponential growth in the sector. The misleading projections have perpetuated the impression that the growth of solar power requires huge subsidies, and has the potential to discourage investment in solar energy market and consequently, hold back even faster growth.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-09-27 |title=Underestimating the Contribution of Solar PV Risks Damaging Policy Making |language=en-GB |work=The Energy Collective |url=http://www.theenergycollective.com/onclimatechangepolicy/2413557/underestimating-contribution-solar-pv-risks-damaging-policy-making |access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-03-04 |title=How the IEA exaggerates the costs and underestimates the growth of solar power |language=en-US |work=EnergyPost |url=http://energypost.eu/iea-exaggerates-costs-underestimates-growth-solar-power/ |access-date=2018-02-09}}</ref>

=== Accuracy of forecasting ===
Ahead of the launch of the ''2009 [[World Energy Outlook]]'', the British daily newspaper ''[[The Guardian]]'', referring to an unidentified senior IEA official, alleged that the agency was deliberately downplaying the risk of [[peak oil]] under pressures from the US. According to a second unidentified former senior IEA official it was "imperative not to anger the Americans" and that the world has already entered the "peak oil zone".<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news |author=Terry Macalister |date=2009-11-09 |title=Key oil figures were distorted by US pressure, says whistleblower |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/nov/09/peak-oil-international-energy-agency |access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref>

''The Guardian'' also referred to a team of scientists from [[Uppsala University]] in Sweden who studied the 2008 World Energy Outlook and concluded the forecasts of the IEA were unattainable. According to their peer-reviewed report, oil production in 2030 would not exceed {{convert|75|Moilbbl/d}} while the IEA forecasts a production of {{convert|105|Moilbbl/d}}. The lead author of the report, Kjell Aleklett, has claimed that IEA's reports are "political documents".<ref name="guardian2">{{cite news |author=Terry Macalister |date=2009-11-12 |title=Oil: future world shortages are being drastically underplayed, say experts |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/nov/12/oil-shortage-uppsala-aleklett |access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> Other research from the same group has thoroughly reviewed oil projections done by the IEA World Energy Outlook.<ref name="Wachtmeister2018">{{cite journal |last1=Wachtmeister |first1=Henrik |last2=Henke |first2=Petter |last3=Höök |first3=Mikael |date=2018 |title=Oil projections in retrospect: Revisions, accuracy and current uncertainty |journal=Applied Energy |volume=220 |pages=138–153 |doi=10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.013 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2018ApEn..220..138W }}</ref>

The anticorruption [[NGO]] [[Global Witness]] wrote in its report ''Heads in the Sand'' that "Global Witness' analysis demonstrates that the Agency continues to retain an overly-optimistic, and therefore misleading, view about potential future oil production." According to Global Witness, "the Agency's over-confidence, despite credible data, external analysis and underlying fundamentals all strongly suggesting a more precautionary approach, has had a disastrous global impact."<ref name="heads">{{cite journal |date=October 2009 |title=Heads in the Sand: Governments Ignore the Oil Supply Crunch and Threaten the Climate |url=http://www.globalwitness.org/library/heads-sand-governments-ignore-oil-supply-crunch-and-threaten-climate |format=PDF |journal=[[Global Witness]] |pages=45–47 |access-date=2011-02-19}}</ref>

In 2023, the IEA predicted that demand for fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal would reach an all-time high by 2030.<ref>{{cite news |title=The International Energy Agency thinks peak oil use is in sight this decade as the world switches to renewables. What is driving this shift – and what is still standing in the way? |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230726-an-experts-guide-to-peak-oil-and-what-it-really-means |publisher=BBC |date=27 July 2023}}</ref> [[OPEC]] rejected the IEA's forecast, saying "what makes such predictions so dangerous, is that they are often accompanied by calls to stop investing in new oil and gas projects."<ref>{{cite news |title='Dire Consequences' For Billions: OPEC Blasts IEA's Fossil Fuel Demand Forecast, Warns Of 'Energy Chaos' On Unprecedented Scale |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dire-consequences-billions-opec-blasts-175342106.html |work=Yahoo News |date=18 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=OPEC says IEA estimate of peak fossil fuel demand by 2030 not 'fact-based' |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/opec-says-iea-estimate-peak-fossil-fuel-demand-by-2030-not-fact-based-2023-09-14/ |work=Reuters |date=14 September 2023}}</ref> The IEA forecasts that ammonia will meet approximately 45% of shipping fuel demands by 2050.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mehta |first=Amgeli |date=May 15, 2023 |title=In the voyage to net-zero, which green shipping fuel will rule the seas? |url=https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/voyage-net-zero-which-green-shipping-fuel-will-rule-seas-2023-05-15/ |work=Reuters}}</ref>

=== Restricting access to data ===
In 2021, the IEA was publicly criticized by more than 30 international academics and researchers at [[Our World in Data]] for publishing its detailed, global energy data behind paywalls, "[making] it unusable in the public discourse and [preventing] many researchers from accessing it".<ref name="ambrose-2021">{{cite news |last1=Ambrose |first1=Jillian |date=10 December 2021 |title=Energy watchdog urged to give free access to government data |work=The Guardian |location=London, United Kingdom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/10/academics-urge-iea-to-give-free-access-to-national-energy-data |access-date=2021-12-10 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="ritchie-2021">{{cite journal |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |author-link=Hannah Ritchie |date=5 October 2021 |title=Covid's lessons for climate, sustainability and more from our World in Data |url=https://media.nature.com/original/magazine-assets/d41586-021-02691-4/d41586-021-02691-4.pdf |journal=Nature |volume=598 |issue=7879 |pages=9 |bibcode=2021Natur.598....9R |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-02691-4 |issn=1476-4687 |pmid=34611360 |access-date=2021-11-10 |s2cid=238411009}} {{open access}}</ref><ref name="roser-and-ritchie-2021">{{cite web |last1=Roser |first1=Max |last2=Ritchie |first2=Hannah |date=7 October 2021 |title=The International Energy Agency publishes the detailed, global energy data we all need, but its funders force it behind paywalls: let's ask them to change it |url=https://ourworldindata.org/iea-open-data |access-date=2021-10-08 |work=Our World in Data |location=Oxford, United Kingdom}} {{open access}}</ref><ref name="schaefer-2021">{{cite web |last1=Schäfer |first1=Malte |display-authors=etal |date=8 December 2021 |title=Open letter to the International Energy Agency and its member countries: please remove paywalls from global energy data and add appropriate open licenses |url=https://forum.openmod.org/t/open-letter-to-iea-and-member-countries-requesting-open-data/2949#open-letter-to-the-international-energy-agency-and-its-member-countries-please-remove-paywalls-from-global-energy-data-and-add-appropriate-open-licenses-1 |access-date=2022-01-19 |publisher=Open Energy Modelling Initiative}}  Schäfer is the coordinating author.  {{open access}}</ref> The authors of the Our World in Data open letter suggested that "countries that fund the IEA drop the requirement to place data behind paywalls and increase their funding".<ref name="roser-and-ritchie-2021" />

In January 2022, the IEA announced plans to make all its data and analyses freely available and [[Open access|open-access]], a move endorsed by its executive director and governing board. This initiative was awaiting final endorsement from IEA member countries to become effective.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ritchie |first1=Hannah |last2=Roser |first2=Max |date=2024-03-04 |title=The IEA wants to make their data available to the public – now it is on governments of the world's rich countries to make this happen |url=https://ourworldindata.org/free-data-iea |journal=Our World in Data}}</ref>

In October 2023, the IEA made the World Energy Outlook 2023 dataset available for non-commercial use under a [[Creative Commons license]]. This dataset encompasses global aggregated data for various scenarios, alongside detailed regional and country-specific data up to 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Energy Outlook 2023 Free Dataset - Data product |url=https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-product/world-energy-outlook-2023-free-dataset-2 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===US shale===
In 2018, the IEA was criticized at the [[World Economic Forum]] by Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister [[Al-Falih]], for hyping the US shale oil industry amid forecasts of oversupply for the oil market in their January Oil Market Report. Al-Falih was exasperated with those claims, arguing that natural depletion, and strong demand growth meant that there was plenty of room for new supplies, while the shale drillers would not crash the market. He further said that the IEA is overstating the role of shale in a global market, and how the core job of the IEA, is not to take things out of context.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cunningham |first1=Nick |title=Saudi Oil Minister Tired Of Shale Hype |url=https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Saudi-Oil-Minister-Tired-Of-Shale-Hype.html |access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=26em}}
* [[World Energy Outlook]]
* [[Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre]]
* [[Consensus Economics]]: Surveys of International Economic Forecasts
* [[Economics]]
* [[IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme]]
* [[International Energy Agency Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme]]
* [[IEA-ECBCS Annex 48 : Heat Pumping and Reversible Air Conditioning]]
* [[International Atomic Energy Agency]]
* [[International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation]]
* [[International Renewable Energy Agency]]
* [[Nuclear Energy Agency]]
* [[One Watt Initiative]]
* [[OPEC]]
* [[Peak oil]]
* [[REN21]]
* SolarPACES
* [[Task 40]]
{{Div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|International Energy Agency}}
* [https://www.iea.org/ International Energy Agency]
* [https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023 World Energy Outlook]
* [https://ig.ft.com/climate-game/ Climate Game at the Financial Times]

{{Petroleum industry}}
{{Portal bar|Energy|Renewable Energy}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:International Energy Agency| ]]
[[Category:International energy organizations]]
[[Category:Petroleum politics]]
[[Category:Energy economics]]
[[Category:Energy policy]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Paris]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1974]]
[[Category:Intergovernmental organizations established by treaty]]