1. 2024 IEA Ministerial Meeting

On Tuesday, February 13, and Wednesday, February 14, 2024, State Minister Iwata attended the 2024 IEA Ministerial Meeting. This meeting was an occasion commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the IEA. It brought together representatives of about 50 countries, including IEA member countries, as well as over 50 companies and related organizations. Participants held discussions not only on energy security, one of the IEA’s primary missions, but also on clean energy transitions, outreach to non-IEA member countries, and other subjects.

State Minister Iwata delivered a speech stating the following: [i] an integral response to the trilemma (energy security, climate crisis, and geopolitical risks), [ii] orderly clean energy transitions through various pathways, [iii] the implementation of various technologies and further innovation, and [iv] the significance of decarbonization around the world, including non-IEA member countries. Moreover, Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister, delivered his remarks as a video message, conveying Japan’s expectations that the IEA, an organization placing energy security as its core mission, will further contribute to realizing orderly energy transitions through various pathways, and stating that Japan will continue to collaborate with the IEA.

As a result of the meeting, an outcome document (Ministerial Communique) was compiled.

• 2024 IEA Ministerial CommuniqueLink
• Prime Minister Kishida’s message (Prime Minister’s Office website)Link

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Key points of the outcome document (Ministerial Communique) of the ministerial meeting are as follows.

(1) Preface

• The ministers emphasize the need to ensure energy security towards achieving global net zero emissions by 2050 and the urgency to accelerate clean energy transitions.
• They recognize that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine causes the persistent threat to global energy security.
• As they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IEA, they are determined that the IEA will continue to be at the heart of global dialogue on energy.
• Recalling the COP Global Stocktake decision, they underline the commitment on transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems and intend to achieve a fully or predominantly decarbonized electricity sector by 2035.

(2) Clean energy transitions

• Recalling the COP Global Stocktake decision calling upon parties to contribute to various global efforts in a nationally determined manner, the ministers emphasize the global need to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly, and equitable manner.
• Renewable energy and energy saving: They reaffirm their commitment to contribute to tripling renewable energy capacity globally and support policies and actions towards the goal of putting the world on track to achieving a doubling of the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements, while respecting national circumstances. They encourage interested IEA members to consider policies and measures for enhancing flexibility, including the formulation of global targets on storage, grids or flexibility.
• Nuclear energy: They recognize the potential of nuclear energy as a clean energy source not only to address the climate crisis but also to improve global energy security.
• Low-carbon technologies: They underline the need for developing further clean energy technologies and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, CCUS, and other technologies.
• They affirm the importance of reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel supply chains.
• They underline the importance of decarbonizing the industrial sector.

(3) Energy security

• Gas: The ministers recognize the importance of gas security and well-functioning global LNG markets. They welcome the strengthening of the IEA’s role in the field of gas. They request the IEA, through appropriate bodies, to exchange information and explore and analyze ways to enhance the flexibility, transparency, and security of supply, such as through enhanced gas storage and reserve mechanisms.
• Oil: They note the key role that the IEA oil stockholding system plays in contributing to global oil security.
• Electricity: They recognize the central and growing role of clean electricity and electrification in ensuring energy security while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Critical minerals: They acknowledge the central role of critical minerals and their value chains in clean energy transitions and the importance of further developing the IEA's functions in critical minerals for energy transitions.
• They emphasize the importance of diversifying clean energy supply chains.

(4) Investments in clean energy

• The ministers encourage a further scaling-up of investments to support the global transition to net zero emissions and request the IEA to consider the development of a new analysis on transition finance to support the decarbonization of emissions intensive sectors and their alignment with 1.5 degrees Celsius.

(5) Cooperation with non-IEA member countries

• The ministers are very pleased to invite Latvia to become a member of the IEA and recognize the ongoing progress by Chile, Colombia, Israel, and Costa Rica to comply with IEA membership provisions.
• They welcome Ukraine as an IEA Association country and endorse increased support in critical areas such as its power sector.
• They welcome Kenya and Senegal as IEA Association countries.
• They welcome the start of discussions and constructive engagement with India for IEA membership, recognizing the strategic importance of this country.
• They welcome the upcoming opening of the IEA’s Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore.

Taking this opportunity, State Minister Iwata also held meetings with each of the representatives of the countries and other senior officers attending the ministerial meeting.

2. Meetings with the representatives and other officials of participating countries

(1) Meeting with H.E. Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director, IEA

State Minister Iwata congratulated Director Birol on the IEA’s 50th anniversary, and the two sides confirmed the need to strengthen IEA functions in the field of gas and critical minerals.

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(2) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany

The two sides exchanged views on Japan-Germany cooperation in the field of energy (hydrogen, ammonia, renewable energy, CCUS, etc.)

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(3) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Namho Choe, Vice Minister for Energy Industry, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea (ROK)

The two sides exchanged views on enriching Japan-ROK cooperation in the field of energy, including hydrogen, ammonia, LNG, and methane emissions reduction.

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(4) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Krzysztof Bolesta, Secretary of State, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Poland

The two sides held discussions on Japan-Poland cooperation in the field of energy (nuclear energy, hydrogen, LNG, etc.).

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(5) Meeting with Ms. Anne-Laure Parrical de Chammard, Group Executive Vice President, Siemens Energy AG

The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the field of energy (hydrogen and offshore wind power generation).

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(6) Meeting with Mr. Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi Energy, Ltd.

The two sides exchanged views on cooperation in the field of energy, in particular, in the field of electricity.

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Division in Charge

International Affairs Division, Commissioner's Secretariat, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy