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Cars and Vans
More stringent and broader coverage of fuel efficiency standards for light-duty vehicles is needed
For cars and vans, increasing fuel efficiency standards is important as even in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, nearly 80% of cars and vans on the road in 2030 are still powered with internal combustion engines. Sales of heavier, less efficient SUVs reached around 46% of global sales in 2022, while electric vehicles were just 14% of sales. More and more countries are formulating vehicle efficiency standards and some are even putting in place zero-emission vehicle sales requirements. To be in line…
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Bioenergy
…to invest in direct production and related assets.
Bioenergy – including liquid, gaseous and solid fuels – accounts for the vast majority (95%) of renewable fuel growth to 2030. New demand for bioenergy is set to expand the most in the industrial sector, followed by transport and buildings, though the type of bioenergy differs by sector. Modern bioenergy is less expensive than hydrogen and e-fuels, and strong policy support is already in place in many countries and regions. For instance, more than 60 countries have liquid biofuel policies, whereas only the European Union and the United Kingdom have e-fuel requirements.
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Emission reductions
…global total in 2023. This is more than the entire energy-related emissions of India and the European Union combined. Accelerating efficiency improvements could deliver a third of all energy-related CO₂ emission reductions between now and 2030 in a pathway aligned with reaching net zero emissions by 2050 – the largest share of any sector or technology. Energy efficiency also improves air quality and people’s health by lowering local air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrous oxide. Key analysis Global energy-related CO2 emissions increased by around 15% between 2010 and 2023, driven by an…
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Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit Transport
…achieve this goal.Regulations such as fuel economy standards and heavy-duty vehicle standards encourage manufacturers to introduce more efficient vehicles, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries with regulations and/or efficiency-based purchase incentives in place improve efficiency on average 60% faster than countries without such policies. Information tools such as vehicle labels help inform consumers of a vehicle’s fuel economy and running cost savings. Labels can illustrate the benefits of choosing more efficient vehicles, while also increasing transparency about real-world fuel use. Another information tool is to promote fuel-efficient driving through training programmes.Incentives…
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Energy Efficiency
11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
The International Energy Agency’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency is being co-hosted by IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol and Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson on 29 and 30 June 2026. Hydro-Québec, a recognised leader in energy efficiency, will also help drive industry engagement at the event.
The 11th edition of the IEA’s landmark event comes at a pivotal moment. Many governments around the world are focused on stronger action on energy efficiency as a key policy priority in order to ensure…
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Energy savings
Multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency 2025 Energy efficiency provides multiple benefits. This page explores energy savings. Why is energy efficiency important for energy savings? Energy efficiency measures reduce the amount of energy required to fuel and grow our economies. In economies where energy demand is set to grow significantly, efficiency also helps improve people’s lives by increasing access to additional energy services. Key facts In the last two decades, efficiency measures have generated over 27 EJ of energy savings in IEA countries alone, equivalent to 20% of total energy demand.The industry (including manufacturing) and services (including commercial buildings) sectors…
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Heating
The energy crisis has marked a turning point for residential gas demand in Europe
Heating is a significant driver of global energy demand, both in buildings and in industry, and is an important component of energy expenditure for households, especially in colder climates. Many households use natural gas to warm their homes, provide hot water and to cook. Residential and commercial gas demand dropped by more than 15% in 2022 compared to the year before. While 40% of the decline in residential and commercial demand in Europe can be attributed to weather-related factors (reduced space heating needs due to…
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Luxembourg
Luxembourg has a fossil fuel intensive energy mix driven by a high demand for transportation fuels, notably from transiting freight trucks and commuters. Despite this demand, the country is committed to reducing emissions. Its climate law sets targets for a 55% emission reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality target by 2050. The government has adopted numerous measures to push for energy transition, including a carbon tax which was introduced in 2020 and encouraging renewable generation through subsidies and auctions. Several programmes also support energy efficiency in buildings, industry and transportation, with a target for 49% of all passenger cars to…
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Appliances and Equipment
Standards and labelling can lift the average rate of energy efficiency improvement by two to three times
Based on global evidence from countries with Energy efficiency standards and labelling (EES&L) programmes, the average energy efficiency of new major appliances in these countries can increase two to three times the underlying rate of technology improvement. This can result in average energy reductions of 10-30% over 15 to 20 years in the stock of most regulated products across all countries.
In leading countries with strong regulations and long-running programmes which are regularly updated, the contribution could be much higher…
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State of Energy Policy 2026 Energy efficiency and fuel switching regulations
…force. MEPS covering 30% of global energy demand were made less stringent or saw implementation delayed, while only 17% of demand covered by MEPS saw increased stringency. The most significant decreases in efficiency stringency were in the United States, where the One Big Beautiful Bill Act removed corporate average fuel economy civil penalties, and the Department of Energy repealed earlier energy conservation standards for selected appliances. These changes are expected to have large impacts on MEPS compliance out to 2030. Other notable delays or decreases in stringency included revisions to the United Kingdom’s plans to phase out new gas boiler installations…
