As the impact on global energy access from the conflict in the Middle East continues world governments have agreed new steps to protect supplies.

Dozens of governments from across the globe have issued a joint statement today agreeing to make energy efficiency a cornerstone of energy policy, recognising its critical role in building resilience against future energy shocks, improving affordability for consumers and boosting economic competitiveness.

The statement came as governments gathered for the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Montreal.

Ministers and senior officials from all continents said recent disruptions to global energy markets following the war in the Middle East had reinforced the need to accelerate energy efficiency as one of the quickest and most effective ways to lower energy costs, strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to future market volatility.

In the statement, governments called for stronger action on energy efficiency, including increased support for vulnerable households and businesses, renewed efforts to improve efficiency in buildings and data centres, and measures to unlock investment without creating unnecessary administrative burdens.

“As successive energy crises have shown, energy efficiency remains one of the most powerful tools available to governments for strengthening energy security, lowering costs and boosting economic competitiveness. Best of all, it is a resource that every country possesses in abundance,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol (pic).“The commitments made in Montreal today demonstrate strong international resolve to put efficiency at the heart of energy policy and accelerate progress towards a more secure, resilient and sustainable global energy system. Just as the oil crises of the 1970s drove major improvements in the way energy is used, today’s crisis is set to serve as a catalyst for faster action on efficiency.”

Recognising that vulnerable households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often among those hardest hit by energy price volatility, governments committed to ensuring that all people can access the benefits of energy efficiency. Countries pledged to look for opportunities to expand policies that can ease immediate pressures while improving resilience over the longer term.

At the conference, the COP31 Presidency announced it is commissioning the IEA to produce a special report to support the development of an energy efficiency target for buildings for COP31, which takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, later this year. This reinforces the Agency’s key role in helping governments advance international progress on efficiency.

“Canada is proud to work with international partners to advance energy efficiency as a cornerstone of resilient, affordable and competitive energy systems. At a time of global uncertainty, improving how we use energy is one of the most immediate and cost‑effective ways to protect households and businesses while strengthening our economy,” said Canada’s minister of natural resources Tim Hodgson. “The commitments reaffirmed in Montreal underscore our shared determination to double efficiency progress by 2030 and to ensure that all Canadians – and partners around the world – benefit from lower energy costs, greater energy security and sustainable growth.”