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State of Energy Policy 2026 Energy efficiency and fuel switching regulations
More than 130 countries have energy efficiency or fuel switching regulations in place, but some were revised, delayed or withdrawn in 2025 Energy use has become more efficient around the world since 2000. Global energy intensity has improved by around 30% over the past 25 years, meaning the world uses about 30% less energy per unit of economic output today than it did in 2000, with differentiated trends by key end uses: passenger cars and air conditioners have notably seen efficiency improvements for new sales of 30% and 45%, respectively since 2005. However, the pace of improvement has slowed over…
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Breakthrough Agenda Report 2025 Building
State of the transition Emissions Sectorial CO2 emissions trends have been fairly stable since 2018.Efficiency gains in buildings are improving energy use, but rising ownership of appliances and extreme weather increasingly offset these benefits.Emissions intensity of steel and cement is largely the same as 2020, while global construction activity has slowed in recent years. Cost Investment in building energy efficiency has risen over the past decade, but growth is now stalling, while spending on electrification grows steadily.High-efficiency building envelopes often entail higher upfront costs, constraining uptake in markets without dedicated financial support mechanisms.Strengthening the business…
- Executive summary
- Power
- Hydrogen
- Road transport
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+ 4 pages
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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in China Executive summary
Rapid DER expansion creates new considerations for China’s distribution networks China is experiencing an unprecedented boom in distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery storage, electric vehicles (EVs) and flexible electric loads. Typically located behind-the-meter, these small assets can deliver significant benefits to China’s power system if efficiently integrated, including enhanced flexibility, strengthened electricity security and lower system costs. Driven by declining technology costs and supportive national programmes, DER deployment has accelerated across rural communities and commercial and industrial buildings. By 2024, distributed photovoltaics (DPV) accounted for 40% of the country’s total solar…
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Space Cooling
Country and regional highlights
Updated energy efficiency standards and new policies target emissions associated with space cooling
CO2 emissions
Progress on efficiency and power decarbonisation have not been sufficient to curb emissions growth from rising space cooling demand
Energy
In 2022 energy consumption for space cooling further increased by more than 5% from 2021
Activity
More than half of floor area additions to 2030 will occur in areas of the world with a high need for space cooling
Policy
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Malta
The National energy policy of Malta was launched in December 2012. It lists decisions and actions that have already been implemented as well as measures aiming to ensure the sustainability of Malta's energy sector.
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Global Methane Tracker 2025 Policies
…have recently introduced new measures on methane emissions:Canada issued draft regulations to establish a national cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector. These regulations are expected to further incentivise Canadian oil and gas operators to cut their methane emissions. China established a new air pollution standard for coalbed methane, requiring coal mine operators to capture gas that has a methane concentration of 8% or higher and a flow rate of 10 m³/min or more. This gas must be utilised or stored in gas tanks. If the gas cannot be utilised or stored…
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Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane Key findings
Biogases are a hidden solution to many of today’s energy security and sustainability challenges. They turn waste into sustainable, low-emissions fuels. The attraction of biogases lies in the integration of energy, environment, waste and emissions policies and targets. Biogas can be used directly as heat by households and industry, and to produce electricity. Biomethane, which is an upgraded form of biogas, is a locally sourced, drop-in substitute for natural gas. This report assesses the global potential and costs of developing biogas and biomethane using a first-of-a-kind geospatial analysis. It provides detailed country- and region…
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Unlocking Ukraine’s Hydrogen Opportunity: A Roadmap Unlocking the opportunity - A roadmap for action
Highlights Hydrogen represents a long-term opportunity for Ukraine, but action is required in the near term to unlock the full benefits. Work over the first 2-3 years after the war ends can lay the foundations for future market growth without large commitments, such as through studies, planning for regulation and de-risking. In a second stage (5 years) pilot projects would be built to develop experience in the private sector and inform policy. A final stage (10-20 years) would incorporate lessons learnt, with a focus on standardisation, replication and simplification to support large-scale deployment. Each stage…
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Trucks and Buses
Electrification of road transport goes beyond cars and the ambition is growing
Globally, almost 50 000 electric buses were sold in 2023, equating to 3% of total bus sales and bringing the global stock to approximately 635 000 in total. Several European countries (such as Belgium, Norway and Switzerland) and China achieved sales shares above 50% in 2023, and more than one-fifth of bus sales were electric in Canada, Chile, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.
Sales of electric trucks increased 35% in 2023 compared to 2022, meaning that total sales of electric trucks surpassed electric buses for…
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How accelerating electrification could strengthen energy security in Southeast Asia
Commentary Electrification is key to energy security and sustainability across Southeast Asia Energy demand is rising rapidly in Southeast Asia, driven by economic growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and rising incomes. Since 2015, energy demand has risen by around 40%, while electricity demand has grown even faster – twice as fast as overall energy use. Although renewables have increased significantly over the past decade, fossil fuels have continued to 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…
