Primary energy intensity, a key measure of global energy-efficiency progress, improved significantly this year, but the gains still fall short of what’s needed for governments to fully capture the benefits of efficiency, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday.
Global primary energy intensity – the main metric for tracking efficiency progress – is on course to improve by 1.8% this year, up from just 1% in 2024, the Paris-based agency said in its Energy Efficiency 2025 report.
Preliminary estimates show that several major economies, including India and China, are posting stronger progress than their average since 2019, it added.
The rate of global improvement in energy efficiency has been largely lackluster since 2019, averaging around 1.3% per year, well below the roughly 2% annual pace seen from 2010 and 2019.
The current global rate of improvement remains far below the 4% target set at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, where nearly 200 governments agreed to work together to double the world’s average annual energy-efficiency gains by 2030.
Commenting on the report, IEA President Fatih Birol said the acceleration in global efficiency progress in 2025 is encouraging, including positive signs in some major emerging economies.
“But our analysis shows that governments need to work even harder to ensure efficiency’s full range of benefits are enjoyed by as many people as possible,” Birol said.
“Energy efficiency has the power to enhance people’s lives and livelihoods through greater energy security, more affordable bills, improved economic competitiveness and lower emissions,” he added.
Reporting by Nuran Erkul in London
Writing by Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
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