OECD energy ministers fail to reach agreement on climate targets

The ministerial meeting of the International Energy Agency held on 18 February in Paris did not enable energy ministers to reach an agreement on climate targets. The US Secretary of Energy called on the IEA to focus on energy security and access to energy, criticising the energy policies pursued in Europe. France, the United Kingdom and Spain reiterated the importance of renewable energies in the fight against climate change. The ministers nevertheless reached agreement on the need to improve the monitoring system for supply chains for critical materials and to promote access to clean fuels for domestic use, as the use of inappropriate fuels is a source of high mortality in poor countries.