IEA Executive Director and Kenya’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy jointly announced that 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency would take place in Nairobi, Kenya.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director, Dr. Fatih Birol, and Kenya’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Davis Chirchir, jointly announced that the 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency would take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from May 21–23, 2024.
The IEA’s Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency serves as a platform for ministers, CEOs, and senior leaders to collaborate on advancing energy efficiency goals through international cooperation.
The previous conference, held in Versailles, France, in June, saw participation from over 600 delegates representing 90 countries. The event culminated in the adoption of the Versailles Statement, a commitment from 46 governments to work towards doubling global energy efficiency progress by 2030.
Co-hosted by the IEA and the Government of Kenya, the 9th Global Conference will facilitate high-level discussions on policies and measures aimed at mitigating the ongoing impacts of the global energy crisis. Notably, this conference marks the first time it will be held in Africa and is set to build upon the growing momentum for enhanced energy efficiency action, in anticipation of the COP28 Climate Change Conference scheduled in Dubai.
Dr. Birol emphasized the critical role of efficiency as the primary driver of the energy transition. He emphasized its potential to generate employment, foster industrial growth, enhance energy security, and provide affordable, modern energy services to populations in emerging and developing economies. Dr. Birol also stressed the urgency of ramping up investments in Africa to ensure an equitable and people-centric energy transition.
In September, the Kenyan Government hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. During the summit, Dr. Birol advocated for a “New Energy Pact for Africa” and called on the international community to support African nations in addressing energy access challenges across the continent.
Minister Chirchir expressed his enthusiasm in welcoming global stakeholders to Nairobi and highlighted the pivotal role energy efficiency plays in bolstering affordability, accessibility, and socio-economic development, especially in developing countries.
Preceding the global conference, the IEA will organize its second Energy Efficiency Policy Training Week for Africa in Nairobi in March 2024. This initiative aims to empower the next generation of policymakers in the region with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive energy efficiency efforts forward.