To deal with the energy crisis caused by the Ukraine war, the International Energy Agency has released oil reserves – more could follow. But there is a second important issue.
In view of the war-related energy crisis, the director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has called for climate targets not to be lost sight of.
“We have to be careful that the climate goals do not fall victim to Russian aggression,” said Birol at the start of the IEA ministerial meeting in Paris. The recovery of the global economy after the Corona crisis in 2021 led to the highest CO2 emissions of all time worldwide. However, the fact that renewable energy sources are growing rapidly, e-cars are on the rise and many countries are striving for climate neutrality makes him optimistic.
Energy crisis and climate crisis
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, as conference president, called for increased public investment in clean energies. “The climate doesn’t wait,” she said. The energy crisis triggered by the Ukraine war and the climate crisis must be tackled simultaneously. In doing so, one must be careful not to free oneself from dependence on Russia as an oil and gas supplier on the one hand, but at the same time to become dependent on the procurement of the rare earths and metals required for renewable energies. “We have no illusions about what awaits us, it will be difficult and it will take time.”
US Secretary Granholm stressed the unity in efforts to become independent of oil and gas supplies from Russia. “We do not allow Vladimir Putin to divide us,” she said, looking at the Kremlin chief. To ease the situation, the USA tried to export as much oil and gas as possible. In addition, the IEA has already released crude oil reserves, but these only represent a very small part of the emergency reserves. If necessary, further releases of oil reserves by the IEA are possible, stressed Granholm.
ensure security of supply
At the start of the IEA conference, the Secretary General of the Association of Industrialized States, Mathias Cormann, said that further measures were needed to ensure security of supply in view of the war in Ukraine. You have to make sure that the short-term measures lead in the right direction and not to new obstacles.
IEA boss Birol promised a realignment of the organization, which was founded in 1974 in response to the oil crisis to ensure stable supplies to industrialized countries. In addition to its commitment to clean energies, the IEA will also work to ensure a secure supply of the metals required for renewable energies in the future.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
