Energy and environment ministers from G20 countries met for their first ever joint ministerial meeting on 15-16 June in Karuizawa, Japan. Held under the G20 Presidency of Japan, the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth tackled issues relating to the protection of the physical environment and clean energy transitions. Energy efficiency was discussed by delegates as a central pillar for achieving sustainable and clean energy systems for all economies.

The Ministerial Communiqué, issued at the conclusion of the meeting, confirms the overall trend from previous presidencies and shows the G20’s commitment to scaling up energy efficiency policies and programmes and its continuous support for the implementation of activities under the G20 Energy Efficiency Leading Programme (G20 EELP) coordinated by the IPEEC.

In the Communiqué, G20 members ‘recognise the key contribution that energy efficiency makes to energy transitions as well as the untapped potential as an affordable secure and sustainable means to provide energy services.” Notably, the Communiqué stated that increasing energy efficiency is crucial to establishing “resilience, protection and development of a reliable energy infrastructure”.

To accelerate energy efficiency progress in G20 economies, the Communiqué points out the necessity to significantly advance the innovation and the deployment of energy efficient technologies, and scale up investments and financing in energy efficiency. International collaboration also plays a pivotal role in establishing energy efficiency’s role in tackling environmental challenges across sectors. G20 members further noted their desire to continue exploring the potential and impact of energy efficiency in heating and cooling as well as the buildings sector.

The G20’s commitment towards energy efficiency at the Karuizawa Ministerial provides strong momentum for future G20 Presidencies to carry the collaborative work forward and continue to support energy efficiency polices to achieve a sustainable energy transition. Such commitment reinforces IPEEC’s mandate to continue being a platform that helps major economies develop and implement energy efficiency policies through the leadership of its members.

For more information about the IPEEC’s G20 engagement, please click here.
Read IPEEC’s report to the G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) here.