Alok Sharma
IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit
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From targets to actions
Top international energy and climate leaders from countries representing the vast majority of global GDP, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions will take part in the IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit on 31 March to accelerate the momentum behind clean energy and examine how countries can work together more effectively to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero in line with shared international goals.
Following the IEA’s inaugural Clean Energy Transitions Summit in 2020, this year’s edition will be co-hosted by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma, and will act as a critical milestone on the road to COP26 in Glasgow in November.
The Summit will bring together representatives from energy and climate Ministries from more than 40 countries. This includes official Ministerial representatives from the United States, India, China, the European Union, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, Colombia, Australia, and many others, who will take part in 5 Ministerial panel discussions. In addition, participants from a broad cross section of civil society groups, private companies, and governments will be in attendance.
It will be a critical opportunity to take stock of the growing list of commitments from countries and companies to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, and to focus on the implementation actions necessary to start turning the growing number of net zero goals into reality. Participants will share insights on what has worked in the real world to help identify policies and measures that can deliver concrete results to achieve climate, security and affordability goals. This event will build momentum towards COP26 and inform preparation of the IEA’s upcoming Special Report “The World’s Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050”.
Chairs
Fatih Birol
Fatih Birol
As Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol (@fbirol) has positioned the IEA at the forefront of global efforts to advance a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system. Since taking office in 2015, he has modernised the Agency by broadening its energy security mandate beyond oil to include electricity, natural gas, renewables and critical minerals, strengthened the Agency's global leadership in clean energy transitions and expanded IEA membership to include major emerging countries. As a result, the IEA’s share of global energy demand coverage has increased from 40% to over 80%. He has also played a central role in the global response to major energy security emergencies, including those triggered by the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Dr Birol joined the IEA in 1995 and steadily rose through the ranks from junior analyst to Chief Economist, where he oversaw the flagship World Energy Outlook. Throughout his career, he has been a leading advocate for expanding access to electricity and clean cooking solutions in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
He has twice been included in the TIME100 list of the world’s most influential figures, in 2021 and 2026. His numerous honours include the French Legion of Honour, the Japanese Emperor’s Order of the Rising Sun, the Swedish King’s Order of the Polar Star, and the highest state decorations from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Korea, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates.
Before joining the IEA, Dr Birol worked for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna. He holds degrees in power engineering and energy economics from the Technical University of Istanbul and the Technical University of Vienna. He also has an honorary doctorate from Imperial College London and has been elected a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He chairs the World Economic Forum’s Energy Advisory Board and is an honorary life member of Galatasaray Football Club.
Schedule
All times in Paris time
Mar 31, 2021
12:00 - 13:00
A Grand Coalition to Achieve Global Net Zero and a Conversation between Major Economies
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 1: Ensuring People-Centred Transitions
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 2: Catalysing Near Term Implementation
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 3: Accelerating Technology and Innovation in Key Sectors
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 4: Mobilising Clean Energy Investment
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13:00 - 14:00
Panel 5: Building Confidence that Commitments will be Realised
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14:00 - 15:00
Leaders’ Plenary – Toward Glasgow and Beyond
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Videos
Key materials
All times in Paris time
Mar 31, 2021