Flagship IEA energy efficiency conference set for Nairobi in May 2024

The International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol and Kenya’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir today confirmed plans to host the IEA 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21 to 23 May 2024.

The IEA’s Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency series brings together ministers, CEOs and other senior leaders to explore how international cooperation and accelerated ambition on energy efficiency can translate into substantive real-world progress.

The previous conference, which took place in Versailles, France, in June this year, saw over 600 delegates from 90 countries in attendance.  The event delivered the Versailles Statement, a pledge from 46 governments to support the goal of doubling global energy efficiency progress by 2030.

The 9th Global Conference, jointly organised by the IEA and the Government of Kenya, will host discussions between leaders on the policies and measures needed to address the ongoing impacts of the global energy crisis. It will be the first time that the event has taken place in Africa and will build on the momentum for greater energy efficiency action that is currently gathering pace ahead of the COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai.

Dr Birol said: “I am delighted that the next IEA Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency will be hosted in Nairobi. Efficiency must be the first fuel to drive the energy transition. It will play a critical role in creating jobs, growing industries, improving energy security and delivering affordable, modern energy services to all in emerging and developing economies. Not least on the continent of Africa where we must urgently scale up investment to ensure we deliver a just and people-centred energy transition.”

In September, the Kenyan Government hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, during which Dr Birol called for a “New Energy Pact for Africa” and urged the international community to support African countries in tackling energy access challenges across the continent.

Minister Chirchir said “We are delighted to welcome the world to Nairobi, yet again, to continue our journey towards energy transition. Energy efficiency will go a long way in enhancing affordability, access and socio-economic development, more so in Developing Countries.”

Ahead of the global conference, the IEA will also host its second Energy Efficiency Policy Training Week for Africa in Nairobi in March 2024 to help build capacity among the next generation of policymakers in the region.