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Ali Allawi
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Finance - Republic of Iraq.
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Thematic session: Buildings as active players in the energy transition
Event backgroundIn today’s context of energy market volatility and economic uncertainty, energy efficiency remains essential for affordability, energy security and competitiveness. The 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency will bring together global leaders to accelerate action, with efficient, interactive buildings emerging as a key part of more flexible and resilient energy systems.Buildings account for a large share of global energy demand, which is expected to grow further with electrification, cooling needs and urbanisation. Improving building efficiency and enabling smarter interaction with the grid can lower energy costs, optimise power systems and strengthen resilience.Governments are not starting…
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Christine Lagarde
President of the European Central Bank. She is a French politician and lawyer who has served as President of the European Central Bank since 2019. She previously served as the 11th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2011 to 2019. Lagarde had also served in the Government of France, most prominently as Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry from 2007 until 2011. She is the first woman to have hold each of those posts.
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Dr William Ruto
President of Kenya.
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Araceli Fernandez Pales
Head of Technology Innovation Unit.
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Global EV Outlook 2026 Webinar (morning session)
Background information The Global EV Outlook is an annual publication that identifies and assesses recent developments in electric mobility across the globe. Combining analysis of historical data with projections, the report examines key areas of interest, such as the deployment of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, battery demand, and key policy developments in major and emerging markets. It also considers the implications of growing EV adoption for electricity and oil consumption, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Amid the ongoing energy crisis sparked by the conflict in the Middle East, this edition includes early monthly data for 2026 and considers potential implications…
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Aaron Koh
Former WEO Consultant.
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2026 IEA Ministerial Meeting
Energy ministers from around the world will meet in Paris on 18 and 19 February for the IEA’s 2026 Ministerial Meeting – taking stock of the latest developments in energy markets and policies, and the implications for energy security, affordability and sustainability.The IEA's Ministerial Meeting, which takes place every two years in Paris, provides an opportunity to review the Agency’s achievements and discuss key global energy challenges and opportunities. The 2026 Ministerial will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Hermans of the Netherlands.In addition to government ministers, industry CEOs from the energy sector and beyond…
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Betty Cherwon
Ambassador, Kenya. Ambassador Betty Cherwon, MBS, ‘ndc’(K) is a long serving Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya. She is a seasoned diplomat who joined the Ministry in 1996 and has served in various capacities in the Ministry and its Missions in Berlin, Cairo and London. Prior to her appointment as Kenya’s Ambassador to France with accreditation to Portugal, Serbia, Monaco and the Holy See, Ambassador Cherwon was the Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, a post she held from 2020 to 2023. Ambassador Cherwon has a cross-section of expertise and skills acquired for almost 20 years in the fields of Public Policy, Strategic Planning, Protocol, Negotiation, Political Analysis and Diplomatic Etiquette. Ambassador Cherwon has an MA in International Studies from the University of Nairobi. She holds a BA in Education from Kenyatta University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomacy ...
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Thematic session: Flexible grids for electrification
…transformation as electricity demand rises from electrification, data centres and cooling needs, while growing shares of variable renewable energy increase system complexity. These trends are placing increasing pressure on grids and require new approaches to ensure reliability and resilience.Demand-side flexibility and digitalisation are emerging as key solutions to address these challenges. By enabling consumers to adjust their electricity use in response to system conditions, flexibility can reduce peak demand, integrate renewables and defer costly infrastructure investments. Digital technologies play a critical role in enabling this transformation by allowing real-time monitoring, aggregation and control of distributed energy resources…