IPEEC 2017 Energy Efficiency Report Highlights Achievements, Challenges

Energy efficiency improvements loom large in realizing UN and national climate change, “green” energy and universal energy access goals. Created in 2009, the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) is playing an important role in the process. IPEEC brings together public and private sector energy efficiency and policy experts and assists governments, public, and private sector organizations to quickly identify and implement policies aimed at achieving energy efficiency improvements across a broad front of socioeconomic sectors.

GHG saving in addition to NDCs 2030

IPEEC presented its 2017 annual report, Supporting Energy Efficiency Progress in Major Economies to the G20 last week. “2017 saw IPEEC grow and consolidate as a key player in fostering international energy efficiency cooperation,” the report authors highlight.

“Country-led task groups reinforced their activities to progress energy efficiency in key areas: appliances and equipment, buildings, industrial energy management, electricity generation, transport, finance and data,” according to the report.

A first, best step

GHG emissions savings from energy efficiency by sector, 2030

IPEEC presented to the G20 last week as part of the latter’s Energy Efficiency Leading Program, the G20’s long-term framework for energy efficiency cooperation. According to IPEEC:

“Throughout the year, IPEEC also enhanced dialogue with international organizations to explore opportunities for greater synergies and to strengthen the collective impact of energy efficiency collaboration.”

Considered a first, yet best, step towards achieving UN “green” energy, energy access, and climate change goals, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that improving energy efficiency can account for nearly 50 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions that the world’s leading climate scientists say is needed to avert breaching a global warming tipping point. As of April 2017 progress regarding three global energy goals – access to electricity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency – was not on pace to meet 2030 targets, according to the World Bank’s Global Tracking Framework.

“The IPEEC Secretariat oversees and coordinates the G20’s energy efficiency work in cooperation with other major international organizations.”

A self-described “autonomous partnership of nations,” the IPEEC was created by the Group of 8 (G8) to foster and advance international, public-private collaboration on energy efficiency. Its membership roster has since expanded to include 17 of the Group of 20 (G20) economies, which represent more than 80 percent of global energy use and more than 80 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The organization is managed by a secretariat hosted by the International Energy Agency in Paris, France, and governed by two committees: a Policy Committee currently chaired by the European Union, and an Executive Committee, currently chaired Canada.

“Energy efficiency has been gaining momentum over the past few years. Governments around the world have invested significant efforts to deploy energy efficiency more widely, guided by the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and other frameworks for the energy transition,” Tudor Constantinescu, chair of the IPEEC Policy Committee and principal adviser to the Director General for Energy, European Commission, writes in the report’s executive summary.

Fully realizing the benefits

“While this is good news indeed, we must keep going if we are to achieve the full benefits energy efficiency has to offer for our economic growth, energy security and affordability, and the fight against climate change,” Constantinescu continues.

“Our ultimate success hinges on our determination to enhance our actions and continue cooperating closely with one another.”

IPEEC made good progress in 2017 across the broad front of energy efficiency improvement activities, the report authors state. These activities include appliances and equipment, buildings, industrial energy management, electricity generation, finance and data, and transport.

“Throughout 2017, energy efficiency cooperation has made significant strides under the G20. Task groups have consolidated and reinforced their activities to support the design, acceleration and enactment of energy efficiency policies and programs in participating countries.”

Recognizing success to date, G20 leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting the Energy Efficiency Leading Program in the G20 Action Plan for Climate and Growth, which was adopted by most G20 governments at the Leaders’ Summit in July in Hamburg, IPEEC points out.

Working to ensure that progress to improve energy efficiency is made globally, the G20 called on other countries to join their efforts. They also agreed to explore ways to strengthen current institutional arrangement for international energy efficiency cooperation.

Looking ahead over the near term, IPEEC says it will continue “to deliver effective coordination of the Leading Program, support the G20 Presidency in its energy efficiency objectives, and facilitate strong dialogue among countries and international institutions in its role as a unique platform for stronger and more systematic energy efficiency collaboration.”


*Images credit: IPEEC, 2017 Annual Report

Andrew Burger
Andrew Burger
A product of the New York City public school system, Andrew Burger went on to study geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, work in the wholesale money and capital markets for a major Japanese bank and earn an MBA in finance.

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