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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 Executive summary
Southeast Asia is a very dynamic region that is set to be a major driver of global energy demand growth, but the Middle East conflict has provided a stark wake-up call for the region’s energy system. Southeast Asia accounts for 9% of the world’s population and 4% of its GDP, but nearly 20% of global energy demand growth to 2035 under today’s policy settings. The disruption in global fuel markets has exposed deep structural vulnerabilities linked to import dependence, limited diversification and concentrated supply routes. Before the crisis, around 60% of Southeast Asia’s imports of…
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Climate Change
…deliver 1.5 °C-aligned energy transitions; and supporting the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement – while deepening existing cooperation on data and capacity building. The IEA and the UNFCCC are building consensus on actions to deliver 1.5 °C-aligned energy transitions; and supporting the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement – while deepening existing cooperation on data and capacity building. The global energy system is the bedrock of modern economies and societies – providing power to everywhere we live and work. Yet the production and consumption of energy is also responsible for…
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Energy and Water
…as well as climate change. This has significant implications for ensuring both energy and water security. Energy's water problem Energy demand for water desalination is poised to double to 2030 Almost all of the world’s water demand is met by groundwater and surface water. However, water stress has led to an increase in the use of non-traditional resources, such as saltwater. This requires desalination, the process of separating saline water (seawater or brackish water) into freshwater and concentrated salt. Global energy demand for desalination has nearly doubled since 2010, and current trends point to another doubling to…
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Energy and Gender
…positions has been rising faster than the economy-wide average since 2015. Renewables and nuclear have seen particularly strong progress, while there have only been marginal gains in oil and gas supply, and coal witnessed declines. Women’s share of leadership roles in the energy sector now stands at 18% – up from 13% in 2015, but still below the economy-wide average of 25%. Nearly one in three people lack access to clean cooking, disproportionately affecting women and children Women disproportionately endure the negative consequences of a lack of access to clean cooking fuel supplies. In addition to health risks…
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Artificial Intelligence
…of AI systems have grown quickly due to improved computing power, a boom in data availability and breakthroughs in the design of AI models, leading to rapid adoption by both businesses and individuals. Though significant uncertainties remain, AI has the potential to transform the energy sector in the coming decade. It is set to drive a surge in electricity demand from data centres around the world while also unlocking significant opportunities to cut costs, enhance competitiveness and reduce emissions.To better understand the growing connections between energy and AI, the IEA launched a major new initiative in 2024: Energy for…
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COP28: Tracking the Energy Outcomes
…of Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, under the Paris Agreement. Strong ambition and implementation of these NDCs will be crucial in determining the pace at which global greenhouse gas emissions decline over the next decade.The IEA is working with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and sharing data, analysis and policy advice with governments to inform this process.Our Climate Pledges Explorer tracks existing NDCs and net zero targets for more than 190 countries. The interactive database, which also lays out what each country’s NDC implies for energy sector emissions, is updated regularly. Working with countries to accelerate progres...
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Investment
…investment in the energy sector – especially in emerging and developing economies, where data is often limited. Participants representing a diverse range of financial institutions are invited to attend an annual event hosted at the IEA headquarters in Paris, and regional summits – the latest held in Singapore – are also organised to encourage broad participation across geographies. Participants representing a diverse range of financial institutions are invited to attend an annual event hosted at the IEA headquarters in Paris, and regional summits – the latest held in Singapore – are also organised to encourage broad participation across geographies. Investment in clean energy this year…
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Net Zero Emissions
…the energy sector to achieve this goal at the global level by mid-century. An update to the Roadmap, which has served as an essential benchmark for policy makers, industry, the financial sector and civil society, was published in 2023.The Roadmap is based on the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Scenario, which portrays a pathway for the global energy sector to achieve net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050 while maintaining energy security. This scenario is consistent with keeping long-term global warming to 1.5 °C with limited overshoot. It also aims to meet key energy…
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Policy options to accelerate distributed solar PV in Ukraine Distributed solar PV in Ukraine
…sources, including the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, around 300 MW (and up to 900 MW, depending on the source) of new solar PV was installed in 2024, including behind-the-meter installations, while 20 MW of new onshore wind power came online. Thus, reaching the required 24 GW of new distributed solar PV for a distributed energy system by 2030 implies that the total installed capacity more than quadruples from the estimated capacity of around 7 GW in 2024. As Russia continues to strategically target Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of the fourth winter since the beginning of the war, large…
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World Energy Outlook 2025 Stated Policies Scenario
Stepping up the pace of change? The Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS) is an exploratory scenario, designed to reflect the prevailing direction of travel for the energy system based on a detailed reading of country-specific energy, climate and related industrial policies that have been adopted or put forward, even if not yet codified in law. It reflects the state of technology and market conditions but does not include aspirational goals. Total final consumption grows 1% annually to 2035 in the STEPS, with India and other emerging market and developing economies leading demand growth. It increases more slowly than in the…
