Global progress in energy efficiency is expected to slow to less than 1% in 2020, the lowest rate in ten years, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) published on Thursday 3 December.
According to IEA predictions (data for the year 2020 are not yet available), the rate for 2020 is expected to be about 0.8%, about half of the weather-adjusted rates for 2019 (1.6%) and 2018 (1.5%).
Recalling that improvements in energy efficiency have been declining globally since 2015, the IEA is concerned about this trend, judging progress to be “well below the level needed to achieve global climate and sustainability goals ”.
In addition, investment in energy efficiency is expected to fall by 9% in 2020, due to the lower economic growth caused by Covid-19, the report estimates.
“The recent IEA analysis shows an encouraging momentum in favour of renewable energy, but I am very concerned about the trend in energy efficiency”, said the Agency’s Executive Director, Fatih Birol, stressing the urgent need for action.
See the report: https://bit.ly/2Icdt82 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)