IEA participates in first Paris Peace Forum to expand global dialogue on energy and security

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Paris Peace Forum group talk

IEA Deputy Executive Director Mr Paul Simons (right) participates in a panel discussion on innovation and energy at the Paris Peace Forum on Tuesday 13 November (Photograph: IEA)

The International Energy Agency was invited to take part in the first Paris Peace Forum, an initiative launched by President Emmanuel Macron of France in support of international collaboration and collective responsibility. The event brought together world leaderes including Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany and Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.

Over the course of the three-day event, the IEA presented the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI), a programme created in 2010 under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and coordinated by the IEA with the aim of sharing best practises on mobility. The EVI runs on a unique governance model based on cooperation and collaboration between national governments (including IEA Members and Association countries), the private sector and municipalities.

The IEA also lead discussions with a variety of international partners on how to boost technology innovation in energy, foster energy access, and benchmark progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, notably SDG7 on energy. The IEA's presence at the Forum served as a voice for the critical role of the energy sector in sustainability and economic growth, supported by analysis across all fuels and energy technologies, multilateral initiatives supporting clean energy transitions, and its work on technology, innovation, and sustainable development.

Global collaboration is at the heart of the IEA’s work, with an expanding range of programmes and activities with Association countries, member and non-member countries, including through international partner organisations and forums, such as the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, regional organisations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the African Union, the Group of 20, Group of Seven and the Clean Energy Ministerial. The IEA also supports the development of the International Solar Initiative, based on the strong collaboration between the IEA, the ISA secretariat and the governments of India and France.

The IEA family today includes 30 Member countries and 8 Association countries (Brazil, China, India,  Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand) which together account for more than 75% of global energy consumption.

Official leaders photo of the Paris Peace Forum (Photograph: Stephane Sby Balmy)