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The Middle East and Global Energy Markets
…futures – the global benchmark for crude prices – rose steeply, peaking at more than 60% above pre-conflict levels in late April. Prices pulled back in late May and early June as strategic stock releases and demand weakness eased market tightness, and after the United States and Iran announced an interim agreement to end hostilities. Physical crude markets continue to reflect acute supply tightness as refiners scramble to replace lost Middle Eastern cargoes with alternative supplies. Prices for certain oil products – notably diesel, jet fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which have been particularly exposed to the disruption – remain elevated.Shipments…
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China’s Official Energy Finance in Emerging and Developing Economies Case 1. Uzbekistan 1-GW Solar PV Project
Project overview and impact Uzbekistan is beginning a rapid scale-up of renewable power, and large solar projects are essential for meeting its target to increase the share of renewables to 40% of total electricity generation by 2030. This is a strikingly ambitious objective given today’s starting point: in 2023, around 90% of Uzbekistan’s electricity was produced from fossil fuels, mainly in the form of natural gas, while solar and wind together accounted for less than 1%, and renewables more broadly reached only about 10%, almost all of which came from hydropower. At the same time, electricity demand…
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Global EV Outlook 2026 Executive summary
After another record year for EV sales, attention is turning to the impacts of the energy crisis for global car markets Electric car sales grew by 20% globally to exceed 20 million in 2025, meaning one-quarter of all new cars sold were electric. Europe saw the strongest growth among major electric vehicle (EV) markets, with electric car sales rising by more than 30% to reach 28% of total sales, following an increase in the stringency of the European Union’s CO2 standards for cars. China’s growth in electric car sales slowed slightly, in part due to a temporary…
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Renewables 2025 Executive summary
…are expected to reach a historic high, triple the 2024 increase, driven by growth in the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Türkiye, Kenya and the Philippines.The forecast for growth in global renewable power capacity is revised down slightly, mainly due to policy changes in the United States and China. The renewable energy growth forecast for the 2025-2030 period is 5% lower compared with last year’s report, reflecting policy, regulatory and market changes since October 2024. The forecast for the United States is revised down by almost 50%. This reflects several policy changes, including the earlier phase out of…
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Global Energy and Climate Model Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE)
The International Energy Agency (IEA) was asked by the COP26 Presidency in 2021 to give an indication of what achieving the 1.5 °C goal would mean for the energy sector. Responding to this request, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE Scenario) was developed. It represents a global pathway towards the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, but not the only possible one. The IEA has always been clear that there are various paths to reach this objective and that each country will have its own route. Since 2021, the IEA has updated its NZE Scenario each year…
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Global Hydrogen Review 2026 Executive summary
The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global production and trade of hydrogen-based products The Middle East is a major producer of hydrogen-based products, and the conflict has strongly impacted their production. The Middle East is home to around one-sixth of global hydrogen production, the majority dedicated to the production of chemicals, fertilisers and refined oil products. The region accounts for more than 10% of global refining capacity, ammonia and urea production, and close to 17% of methanol production. Several refineries and petrochemical plants have halted operations due to supply disruptions and the impossibility of exporting…
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Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency for Business
Energy efficiency is often described as the “first fuel” because the cheapest and most secure energy is the energy that is not used. For businesses, this begins with a straightforward benefit: lower energy bills. In many cases, efficiency investments can pay back quickly through reduced energy costs alone. However, the value of energy efficiency extends beyond energy savings.This report builds on the IEA’s work on the multiple benefits of energy efficiency and focusses on how these gains materialise in businesses. Key benefits range from productivity and product quality improvements to brand image or health benefits for employees and…
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World Energy Employment 2024 Executive summary
…of specialisation, such as grids and nuclear power.Intense competition for talent in clean energy sectors is prompting firms to hire aggressively in anticipation of future growth – a tactic that could prove effective but may also leave some companies exposed to uncertainties related to project flows and changing policies. Countries that are forging ahead into clean energy are seeing significant employment growth from these sectors, with clean energy job growth representing over 10% of economy-wide job growth in China and 4-6% in advanced economies such as the United States, the European Union and Japan in 2023. However, in…
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Assessing emissions from LNG supply and abatement options
Drawing on the latest and best available data, this report provides a comprehensive estimate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, including from upstream production, processing, and pipeline transmission to liquefaction, shipping, and regasification. It also discusses the significant emissions reductions that are technically feasible with today’s technologies including through methane abatement, electrification using low-emissions power, process efficiency improvements, and the elimination of routine flaring, as well as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) for managing the naturally-occurring CO2 from LNG supply. Introduction Around 550 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural…
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Global Methane Tracker 2026 Regional insights
…on Climate Change (IPCC). Meanwhile, work integrating satellite observations with Colombia’s national methane inventory has identified underreporting in the energy sector and offers a model for improving national inventories. The United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) is currently conducting a study on the sources of methane emissions in Colombia and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is supporting efforts to strengthen monitoring, reporting and verification in that country’s mining sector.All of the region’s major energy producers have signed the Global Methane Pledge, except for Venezuela. Colombia is the only country with…
