Home > About the IEA > LTO Long-Term Co-operation and Policy Analysis The Office on Long-Term Co-operation and Policy Analysis (LTO) develops energy policy analyses to promote conservation and the efficient use of energy, increased use of alternatives to oil (energy diversification), and other measures to enhance long-term energy security and stimulating economic efficiency, while protecting the environment. LTO relies on its Standing Group on Long-Term Co-operation (SLT) to provide and monitor energy developments in member countries and make recommendations on energy policy through a regular series of individual country reviews. The LTO focuses on 4 main areas: 1. Energy Diversification The IEA provides policy analysis of coal, gas and electricity, including renewables and nuclear generation, in the context of energy market developments, and monitors key policy issues raised by regulatory reform and market liberalisation in the energy sector. It now publishes an annual Gas Market Review, analysing developments in natural gas pipeline and LNG (liquefied natural gas) markets over the medium term. The IEA also collaborates with The Coal Industry Board (CIAB). The purpose of the CIAB is to assist the IEA in the practical implementation of the "Principles for IEA Action on Coal" – measures aimed at ensuring a ready supply and trade of coal to underpin energy security. 2. Environment The IEA provides analysis of climate change mitigation options, e.g. emissions trading, project based mechanisms, technology and other policies and measures; it assesses energy sector implications and cost-effectiveness of policy design at both domestic and international levels in the short term and the long term. A searchable, electronic member country policy and measures database is maintained on the IEA website. See the Environment page. 3. Country Reviews Every four years, the energy policies of individual Member countries undergo an in-depth review by their peers. In intervening years, brief standard reviews update the main energy policy developments and report on progress in implementing the recommendations of the in-depth reviews. All of the reviews are published annually, along with a synthesis report highlighting important cross-cutting policy issues. 4. Efficiency The IEA Energy Efficiency Policy Analysis team helps governments design more effective and more ambitious energy efficiency policies. It prepares detailed analyses of energy efficiency policy issues, typically leading to IEA publications; maintains a energy efficiency database; conducts international workshops, seminars and conferences on a wide range of efficiency policy issues; and encourages co-operation between IEA members and non-members to advance energy efficiency policy globally. A key initiative in recent times has been the standby power initiative, which has encouraged many countries around the world to set a maximum target of 1-Watt standby power consumption in a range of electrical devices. The Working Party on Energy Efficiency was established to work on these issues. Also see:
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