IEA watching climate claims
The IEA wants to ensure global climate pledges are carried out.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a new online resource designed to monitor the progress towards achieving the ambitious energy goals set at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
This tool aims to support global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C above baseline.
The tracking hub, developed in collaboration with UN Climate Change, is intended to boost international cooperation towards a sustainable energy future.
At COP28, nearly 200 countries acknowledged the necessity of net-zero global emissions from energy by 2050 to keep the 1.5°C target achievable.
They agreed on critical objectives, including a threefold increase in renewable energy capacity and a doubling in energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
The new IEA resource provides current data, analyses, and policy advice to help countries transform these commitments into action, with regular updates to ensure decision-makers have access to the latest information.
“Countries around the world made historic energy pledges at the COP28 climate summit aimed at keeping a pathway open to reaching the 1.5°C goal. They now need to move swiftly to deliver on them in full: it’s time for implementation not equivocation,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
“Tracking progress will be critical to these efforts. At the IEA, we often say that you can only manage what you can measure. By regularly sharing the latest data, analysis and policy advice, we aim to support governments as they move to fulfil their commitments and keep global warming in check. Doing so is essential to building a more secure and sustainable energy future.”
Further supporting the transition to a clean energy future, the IEA has also released a comprehensive report on the rapid growth in battery technology, crucial for meeting the climate and energy security goals discussed at COP28.
In 2023, battery deployment in the power sector saw a dramatic increase, with more than a doubling of capacity, significantly outpacing other clean energy technologies.
This surge in battery use is attributed to falling costs and advances in technology, supported by favourable industrial policies.
The report says that for the world to meet its 2030 targets, a sixfold increase in global energy storage, predominantly through batteries, is necessary.
This scale-up will facilitate the integration of renewable energy into power systems and enable a shift in electricity supply to match demand, further advancing energy efficiency and the shift away from fossil fuels.
The IEA, in partnership with the upcoming COP29 presidency in Azerbaijan, plans to host a series of high-level dialogues in 2024.
These discussions aim to prepare for future climate summits and foster an exchange of ideas and best practices among global leaders, ensuring continued momentum in the global energy transition.