• Commentary

        • 21 Apr 2026

        How governments can best support consumers during this energy crisis

        …on energy in absolute terms, broad-based price reductions often deliver greater financial gains to higher-income groups. For example, a recent study in the Netherlands estimates that around 70% of the total value of a broadly applied reduction in fuel excise duty ends up benefiting middle-high and higher-income groups.This is particularly important because lower-income households are also the most exposed to energy price shocks. At the height of the 2022 energy crisis, low-income households in advanced economies spent around one-quarter of their income on energy – up 4 percentage points from 2021. By contrast…

        • Commentary

        • 22 Jun 2026

        How global oil supplies have readjusted to help fill the huge gap left by the Strait of Hormuz shock

        …since the deal was agreed.The supply disruptions and price spikes to date have prompted a wide range of responses by oil producers, refiners and consumers to adapt to the radically changed market conditions. Many consumers have scaled back their energy use and governments have taken steps to shelter households and businesses from the impacts, especially in the Asia-Pacific region where the effects have been felt most acutely. The IEA’s flagship Oil Market Report now estimates that global oil demand will drop by almost 5 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026 year-on-year…

        • Event

        • 06 May 2026

        • 12:00

        Tracking Energy Crisis Policy Responses

        …of emergency oil stocks coordinated by the IEA. At the same time, many governments are taking demand-side measures as they look to shield consumers from high energy prices. To support these actions, the IEA published a report, Sheltering from Oil Shocks, with a menu of 10 demand-side options for governments, households and businesses that could help to quickly save fuel. The IEA has also been closely monitoring the actions taken by countries around the world through a new 2026 Energy Crisis Policy Response Tracker, which highlights measures from nearly 80 countries to reduce demand for oil and other…

        • Commentary

        • 13 May 2026

        Energy crisis threatens world’s most vulnerable as cooking fuel shortages grow

        The Energy Crisis hits the Homefront: A growing shortage of cooking fuels The Middle East crisis has highlighted the energy security risks for a fundamental need: the ability to cook a meal The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis of unprecedented magnitude. The daily volumes of oil lost to global markets in March 2026 surpassed the peak supply losses of the two major oil shocks of the 1970s combined.Previous energy crises affected economies and societies in profound ways, often forcing households to ration fuel for their cars and heating for their homes. The 2026…

        • Commentary

        • 27 Jan 2026

        Designing an effective strategic stockpiling system for critical minerals

        …important protective measure to safeguard countries from supply shocks and disruptions while they develop new, diversified sources of supply. Strategic stockpiles provide a way for countries to strengthen economic and national security, while also helping to deter future export controls and limiting their impact. Strategic stocks are an insurance policy against short-term disruptions Strategic stocks – held specifically for emergency purposes with the involvement of the government – have demonstrated effectiveness across various sectors. A notable example is the oil market, where stockpiles have played an important role in mitigating severe economic impacts for decades. After the oil shock of 1973…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jan 2026

        7 certainties about energy for this age of uncertainty

        …the IMF and Stanford University, has hit unprecedented levels in recent months.But in this time of flux, there are still some important trends that we can identify with some confidence. Here are seven that can help us keep our bearings: The world has entered the age of electricity Oil and gas will still be widely used for many years to come, but the use of electricity is growing twice as a fast as overall energy demand. It’s the key energy input to the most dynamic parts of the global economy – such as AI, data centres and high-tech…

        • Commentary

        • 25 Mar 2026

        Businesses see competitive value of energy efficiency, but smaller firms struggle to access solutions

        CEOs value energy efficiency, but SMEs struggle to benefit Energy efficiency is a strategic asset for industrial competitiveness. For companies facing tight margins, volatile energy prices and intensifying global competition, reducing energy waste is not only a cost-saving measure, but also a way to protect productivity, manage risk and strengthen their position in global markets. Yet not all firms have the same capacity to quickly improve their energy efficiency.New analysis of the 2025 IEA Industrial Competitiveness Survey – which covered 1 000 companies across 14 countries – shows that business leaders view energy efficiency as closely linked to their competitive performance…

        • Commentary

        • 10 Feb 2026

        What it would take to unlock the next phase of hydrogen growth

        Can hydrogen scale up successfully Global hydrogen demand reached 100 Mt in 2024, mainly from refineries, the production of chemicals and the iron and steel sector. Demand grew by almost 2% from 2023, in line with overall energy demand growth. This consumption was almost completely met with hydrogen produced from unabated fossil fuels, using 290 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 90 million tonnes of coal equivalent. However, alternative technologies that can produce low-emissions hydrogen have attracted a lot of interest from governments given their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify energy supply, particularly in countries that have a…

        • Commentary

        • 13 Mar 2026

        Why the growth of energy service companies is uneven globally

        ESCO The global annual ESCO market growth rate has more than doubled over the past five years Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective tools for enhancing energy security, reducing household energy bills and supporting countries’ efforts to reduce emissions. Energy service companies (ESCOs) – firms that develop and implement energy efficiency projects typically financed through verified energy savings – are playing a growing role in delivering energy efficiency improvements across buildings, industry and transport infrastructure worldwide. By integrating project development, financing and performance guarantees, ESCOs can offer a proven way to reduce upfront investment barriers and shift technical and…

        • Commentary

        • 23 Jun 2026

        How accelerating electrification could strengthen energy security in Southeast Asia

        …dominate, meeting over 70% of energy demand growth across this period, with oil accounting for nearly half of total energy consumption.Rapid energy demand growth and continued dependence on fossil fuels brings greater exposure to energy security risks. The region is increasingly reliant on imported fuels, deepening its exposure to price volatility and supply disruptions. The current energy crisis linked to the Middle East conflict has underscored these vulnerabilities. Ahead of the crisis, around 60% of crude oil imports and a third of natural gas imports in the region came from the Middle East. And based on current policy settings…

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