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David Benazeraf
Former China Programme Officer.
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Coal Mid-Year Update 2025 Overview
Global coal demand grew by 1.5% in 2024, reaching an all-time high Global coal demand rose by 1.5% in 2024 to reach 8.79 billion tonnes (Bt), a new record. The growth was the slowest annual rate since the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 caused coal demand to decline. The post-Covid economic recovery and high natural gas prices have driven a sharp rise in global coal demand in recent years, but the growth has slowed year-on-year since 2021. Coal demand grew by 7.7% in 2021, 4.4% in 2022 and 2.3% in…
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Ramping up Heat Pumps in Moldova: A Roadmap A pathway for heat pumps
Heat pumps can strengthen Moldova’s energy security, independence, air pollution and emissions, and even improve energy affordability. Given the regional turmoil – notably in the energy sector – over the past three years and into early 2025, there is a compelling case for reducing natural gas consumption by deploying heat pumps. While Moldova is only beginning to realise its heat pump potential, this presents a significant opportunity to design the system effectively – by stimulating demand, expanding supply, financing the transition and establishing clear regulations. A comprehensive approach will help to ensure a steady and orderly deployment. The following table recommends specific…
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Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 Innovation in mining, refining and recycling to promote diversification
New technologies in mining, refining and recycling hold major potential to scale up diversified supplies Continued growth in mineral demand in the coming decades calls for substantial contributions from supply sources that are sustainable and minimise losses and waste. However, progress on upstream and midstream, or “supply-side”, innovations has been lagging. Building resilient and responsible mineral supply chains will require efforts to scale up new technologies that can increase supply volumes, improve the energy efficiency of production processes, and reduce water consumption, waste generation and emissions all along the supply chain. These innovations can help achieve various policy goals…
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Rare Earth Elements Executive summary
Rare earth elements have rapidly moved to the forefront of the energy and economic policy agenda Rare earth elements play a crucial role in a wide range of strategic applications, from energy, transport and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to aerospace, medical and defence systems. The wide range of applications, combined with highly concentrated supply chains, has elevated their importance in both energy and broader economic security discussions. Though relatively plentiful in the Earth’s crust, this set of 17 elements have garnered the label “rare” because economically viable concentrations are uncommon and they are seldom found in pure form. Their chemical…
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The State of Energy Innovation 2026 Executive summary
Successful energy innovations can have outsize economic and social outcomes, impacting industrial competitiveness, trade, environmental health, infrastructure investment and security. The second edition of the State of Energy Innovation turns the spotlight on the technologies, policies and funders at the forefront of this process. Today, the global markets for energy technologies such as batteries, transformers, turbines, motors and heat exchangers are worth trillions of dollars. With spending on energy representing as much as 10% of global GDP, innovation that reduces energy supply costs can transform a country’s comparative advantage. As a result, the energy sector is innovation-intensive: one…
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Global Methane Tracker 2026 Key findings
No sign that global energy-related methane emissions fell in 2025 despite progress in some areas The fossil fuel sector accounts for around 35% of methane emissions from human activity, yet there is still no sign that methane emissions from fossil fuel operations are falling, despite well-known and proven mitigation pathways. Oil, gas and coal production output reached record highs in 2025, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that methane emissions from these activities total 124 million tonnes (Mt) a year: oil is the largest source at 45 Mt, followed by coal at 43 Mt, and natural gas at 36 Mt. A…
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Asset values
Multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency 2025 Energy efficiency provides multiple benefits. This page explores asset values. Why is energy efficiency important for asset values? Energy efficiency can increase the value of assets, such as homes, buildings or equipment, and lead to lower vacancy rates and longer equipment lifespans. Key facts Energy efficient buildings can command a premium on sale and rental price in both the residential and commercial sectors. Studies show that sale price premiums for energy efficient buildings range from 3% to 15% in residential buildings and 13 to 20% in commercial buildings. Key analysis Studies show that individuals…
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Sheltering From Oil Shocks Cooking fuels
LPG demand accounts for around 10% of global oil demand and is used by many households for cooking. The conflict has caused major disruptions to LPG supply chains. With natural gas processing operations halted in parts of the region and flows through the Strait of Hormuz having come to a standstill, LPG supplies for cooking use have been severely curtailed, both locally and at export destinations. Next to measures to free up LPG capacity from other uses, such as in transport or industry, to prioritise domestic use, there are also actions to directly reduce cooking fuel demand. 9. Where possible…
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Demand and Supply Measures for the Steel and Cement Transition Executive summary
The seeds for producing and using near-zero emissions materials have been planted, but acceleration is needed The industry sector requires a massive scale-up of markets for transformative near-zero emissions materials to contribute to the achievement of internationally-agreed government objectives for net zero emissions. Such scale-up requires the production and use of these materials to grow from essentially zero today to capture nearly the entire market within the next few decades, shifting away from high-emissions conventional production and demand. The steel and cement sectors account for 14% of global energy and process-related emissions on…
