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Electrification is essential to the energy transition, but its success depends on energy efficiency, which reduces demand, lowers system costs, eases grid constraints, improves energy security, and accelerates decarbonization. Combining efficient electric technologies, waste heat recovery, and demand flexibility enables a more affordable, resilient, and scalable energy system while minimizing the need for costly infrastructure expansion.

There were many discussions around reinforcing that the energy transition is no longer constrained by ambition but by execution. Success depends on making energy efficiency investable, scalable, and embedded within integrated systems that combine efficiency, electrification, renewables, finance, and digitalization. Across LCAW sessions, a consistent message emerged: closing the execution gap, unlocking capital, and fostering global collaboration are essential to turning policy commitments into resilient, competitive, and real-world outcomes at scale.

The International Energy Agency’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency was co-hosted by IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol and the Government of Canada in Montreal, Canada, on 29–30 June 2026. The event was held in partnership with the Energy Efficiency Movement who co-lead the CEO Roundtable in partnership with Hydro-Quebec.

The conference took place against a backdrop of growing energy demand, increasing geopolitical uncertainty, rising electricity consumption from AI and digital infrastructure, and the urgent need to improve industrial competitiveness and energy security. Across the two-day event, a clear message emerged: energy efficiency is no longer only a climate solution, it is a strategic tool for energy security, affordability, resilience, and economic growth.

Key Messages from the Conference

– Energy security underpins economic security, making energy efficiency a strategic priority for governments and businesses alike.
– Energy efficiency remains the fastest and most cost-effective way to reduce energy demand, lower costs, and strengthen resilience.
– Electrification and energy efficiency must progress together to support growth while maintaining affordable and reliable energy systems.
– Buildings, heating and cooling systems, and industrial processes represent some of the largest untapped opportunities for efficiency gains.
– AI presents both a challenge and an opportunity, increasing electricity demand while enabling new forms of optimization and energy savings.
– Unlocking financing remains critical, requiring stronger collaboration between industry, governments, and financial institutions.
– SMEs must be part of the transition, as efficiency improvements can significantly improve competitiveness and resilience.
– Public-private partnerships, policy certainty, and knowledge sharing will be essential to accelerate implementation at scale.

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Montreal Collaboration Framework
The Montreal Collaboration Framework’s aim is to accelerate implementation and collaboration between industry, policy maker’s and financial institutions to double the rate of energy efficiency progress by 2030. Building on outcomes from previous IEA Global Energy Efficiency Conferences, it shifts the focus from ambition to delivery. While earlier efforts established priorities and momentum, this Framework is designed to move from commitment and pilots to coordinated deployment, bankable project pipelines, and system level implementation. Its core value lies in simplifying how key actors must act simultaneously and in coordination to overcome fragmentations, reduce risk, and accelerate progress at scale. The outcome reflects the discussions held during the CEO roundtable and does not necessarily represent the offical views of the IEA or its member countries.

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Looking Ahead

The overall tone of the conference was one of optimism. While challenges remain around rising demand, grid capacity, and financing, participants expressed strong confidence that energy efficiency, electrification, digitalization, and stronger public-private collaboration can deliver a more secure, affordable, competitive, and sustainable energy future.

The conference concluded with a shared recognition that the technologies and solutions already exist. The next step is accelerating deployment through stronger partnerships, investment, policy leadership, and implementation at scale.

The key outcome of the 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency was the adoption of the Brussels CEO Four-Point Action Plan, endorsed by ministers and private-sector leaders to accelerate progress toward doubling efficiency by 2030.

The conference convened over 600 participants from around the world, uniting policymakers and organizations from the private and public sector around the shared goal of placing efficiency at the core of competitiveness, affordability, and security.

Roundtables and thematic sessions emphasized digitalization, innovation, and workforce development as enablers of large-scale deployment of efficient technologies. The dialogue went beyond technology – touching on consumers, financing models, and policies that make the energy transition inclusive and beneficial for everyone. The outcomes reinforced the message that energy efficiency is the first fuel for sustainable growth – a foundation for climate neutrality, job creation, and resilient, affordable energy systems worldwide.

The key outcome of the 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency was the launch of the Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit 2024: From Versailles to Nairobi.

This toolkit outlined concrete pathways for governments and industries to accelerate efficiency adoption and meet the global goal of doubling progress by 2030. A series of policy and sectoral roundtables explored solutions for scaling up investment, strengthening policy frameworks, and expanding access to affordable clean energy.

The discussions highlighted the role of energy efficiency in enabling energy security, reducing emissions, and supporting inclusive growth. Participants also examined how digital tools, workforce training, and innovative financing can bridge the implementation gap. The outcomes ultimately called for greater cooperation between governments, businesses, and civil society to transform efficiency from ambition into measurable action across every part of the economy.

The key outcome of the 8th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency was the Versailles 10X10 Actions. A series of roundtables took place to ultimately outline a joint 10-point strategy for concrete actions towards generating greater energy efficiency.

The list of actions reflects the notions raised in the conversations, particularly highlighting the role of energy efficiency and digitalization in tackling the global energy crisis. The round tables covered energy efficiency in all walks of life from industry and infrastructure to buildings, homes and beyond.

The outcomes of the conference concentrated on identifying concrete solutions and making real commitments to improving energy efficiency. While the adoption and implementation of energy efficient technologies continue to be high on the list of priorities, the discussions also focused on aspects related to financing, the workforce and ultimately the motivation of us as consumers.

The 2025 Climate Week NYC centred on shifting from promise to performance, emphasising execution over rhetoric. Across panels and workshops the message was clear: the clean-economy transition is underway, but it must scale, addressing majour energy challenges such as data centres and digital infrastructure energy consumption to clean cooking.

Key themes included the convergence of AI & climate, circular supply-chains, and the integration of affordability, equity and energy security into climate action. Businesses, investors and sub-national governments were urged to anchor climate ambition in measurable outcomes and inclusive delivery, moving beyond announcements to systems change, investment impact and real-world resilience.

The 2024 Climate Week NYC saw the launch of the Global To-Do List which outlines 7 key climate actions across key sectors. Among the 7 important action points, we saw the urgent prompt to stop ignoring energy efficiency.

The event’s key takeaway was a global call to all governments, businesses and the global climate community to commit to bolder annual to-do lists for concrete actions.

Climate Group called for more radical actions to work on current lack of delivery. They stated that urgent, concrete action is needed to address the emissions gap between what scientists say is needed to avoid disastrous climate change, and what governments and business are currently delivering.

COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, delivered a mixed yet meaningful set of outcomes – a significant step toward implementation and resilience in global climate action. Energy efficiency emerged as a critical, cost-effective lever for lower emissions, strengthen energy security and enable a just and inclusive transition.

Among the main outcomes, Parties adopted the Belém Political Package, including a commitment to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and the first-ever common set of Global Goal on Adaptation indicators to track resilience across sectors.
COP30 also established a new just transition mechanism to coordinate support for workers, communities and countries shifting away from carbon-intensive assets. Two voluntary cooperation platforms were launched as well: the Belém Mission to 1.5 (to boost national ambition) and the Global Implementation Accelerator (to support delivery of mitigation and adaptation measures).

However, COP30 fell short on one major expectation: Parties did not agree on a fossil-fuel phase-out, and the final text includes no roadmap for it. The topic will instead advance through voluntary initiatives outside the formal negotiations.

The key outcome of the 29th Conference of the Parties was the agreement on a new “collective quantified goal” on climate finance, committing to mobilise US$300 billion annually by 2035, and laying the foundation for a longer-term target of US$1.3 trillion per year.

Negotiations also finalised rules for the global carbon marketplace under Article 6 and advanced private-sector climate action via the Marrakech Partnership, yet efforts to accelerate fossil-fuel phase-out remained stalled. Delegates focused on aligning ambition with action across mitigation, adaptation and finance while emphasising partnerships across sectors.

Despite the progress, developing countries voiced strong disappointment in the scale and timing of the commitments. Ultimately, COP29 spotlighted climate finance and mechanisms, signalling a shift toward leveraging investment and markets — but underlined that much more remains to be delivered.

The key outcome of the 28th Conference of the Parties was the completion of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement and the launch of the “UAE Consensus”, calling for a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems for the first time in a COP decision.

The event also set ambitious collective goals to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy-efficiency improvements by 2030. Roundtables spanned fossil-fuel phase-out pathways, adaptation action and loss-and-damage funding – notably establishing the long-awaited Loss & Damage Fund to support vulnerable countries.

While the outcome generated historic breakthroughs, it also underlined significant gaps in finance, implementation, and adaptation readiness. The message was clear: the battle against climate change is real, urgent, and demands cooperation across governments, business and civil society.

COP28: Global Renewables And Energy Efficiency Pledge