Argentina. A group of 20 countries (G20) recently met to discuss and review the various forms of transition to a low-carbon economy under Argentina's G20 Presidency.
The first G20 Energy Ministerial in Latin America brought together energy and natural resources ministers and officials from G20 economies, as well as experts from international organizations, to discuss current global energy challenges and shared priorities. Discussions focused on multiple energy transitions, affordable access to energy, and the role played by technological innovation.
Tim Gould, one of the two co-authors of the flagship World Energy Outlook and Head of the Energy Supply Outlook Division of the IEA (International Energy Agency), delivered a keynote address at the Ministerial Conference in which he presented the IEA's key messages on the future of the energy sector, from oil and gas markets, to renewables, greenhouse gas emissions and access to energy.
Prior to the Energy Ministerial, IEA officials also participated in the IGU Gas Natural Day, the World Energy Leaders' Summit, the Business20 Energy Working Group (B20) meeting and the second Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG).
During the meeting, the IEA underlined the need for global collaboration to meet the emission reduction targets required by the Paris Agreement and the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals. The IEA identified the key role of governments in stimulating change and providing stable investment conditions.
The G20 countries acknowledged the IEA's in-depth experience and analysis on the challenges of energy transitions. They welcomed the Energy Transitions report presented by the IEA under the leadership of the Presidency, during the ETWG, which assesses countries' energy transitions, and the Tracking Clean Energy Progress report launched by the IEA in May.
Energy system flexibility, clean energy innovation, barriers to carbon capture, utilization and storage, transparency and sharing of best practices were identified as key areas to accelerate the transition to low carbon emissions. The G20 countries also showed great interest in increasing collaboration with the IEA on energy efficiency and energy statistics.
The IEA has been working closely with Argentina, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Argentina in March 2017 to increase cooperation at the G20 and a new bilateral programme on energy statistics.
Argentina stressed the importance of data and digitalization to improve energy access and manage energy transitions. The IEA has helped drive the G20's new focus on energy data and digitalization, an area that has also benefited from the work of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Latin American Energy Organization and the International Energy Forum.
At the end of the meeting, the G20 countries adopted a consensus communiqué that recognized the central role of energy in promoting just and sustainable development and the need to transform global energy systems. The document also recognises energy security, technological innovation, energy data and transparency as key areas for the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.
This year's G20 under Argentina's leadership highlights Latin America's importance to global energy collaboration, building on its strength in energy supply and the region's success in energy access. regional integration and renewable energy auctions.
The IEA has expanded its work with Latin American countries, working closely with Mexico, which joined the IEA as a full member in February 2018, as well as with Chile, which is an access country, and Brazil, which recently joined the IEA. Family as a country of the Association. A regional statistical cooperation programme has been established with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank in cooperation with the other IEA agency in the region, the Latin American Energy Organization, OLADE.
Source: International Energy Agency.
