The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization, established in 1974, that provides policy recommendations, analysis and data on the global energy sector. The 32 member countries and 13 association countries of the IEA represent 75% of global energy demand.
The IEA was set up under the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis to respond to physical disruptions in global oil supplies, provide data and statistics about the global oil market and energy sector, promote energy savings and conservation, and establish international technical collaboration. Since its founding, the IEA has also coordinated use of the oil reserves that its members are required to hold.
In subsequent decades, the IEA's role expanded to cover the entire global energy system, encompassing traditional fuels such as gas, and coal as well as cleaner and fast-growing energy sources and technologies including renewable energy sources; solar photovoltaics, wind power, biofuels as well as nuclear power, and hydrogen, and the critical minerals needed for these technologies.
The core activity of the IEA is providing policy advice to its member states and Associated countries to support their energy security and advance their transition to clean energy. Recently, it has focused in particular on supporting global efforts to accelerate clean energy transition, mitigate climate change, reach net zero emissions, and prevent global temperatures from rising above 1.5 °C. All IEA member countries have signed the Paris Agreement which aims to limit warming to 1.5 °C, and two thirds of IEA member governments have made commitments to emission neutrality by 2050. (The United States has withdrawn twice.)
The IEA's executive director is Fatih Birol, who took office in late 2015. IEA publishes a range of reports and other information including its flagship publication, the annual World Energy Outlook, as well as the Net Zero by 2050 report.
History Two months after a 7,000-word preliminary draft agreement that notably did not include France, the IEA was founded on November 18, 1974, after the 1973 oil crisis, to avoid future shocks by helping to ensure reliable energy supplies, promote energy efficiency, ensure energy security and encourage technological research and innovation.
The Agreement on an International Energy Program (IEP Agreement) established the mandates and structure of the IEA, chartering it as an autonomous organisation under the umbrella of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 1996, the IEA relocated its headquarters from the Château de la Muette, which it shared with the OECD, to commercially leased space located within the Embassy of Australia, Paris.
The IEA operates autonomously, with its own budget and governance structure. The organization began with 16 founding member countries and has since expanded to 31, with the latest addition being Lithuania in 2022. Full members of the IEA must also be members of the OECD and are required to hold 90 days worth of oil imports as emergency stocks. These emergency stocks can be released to stabilize oil markets worldwide and have been activated six times: January 1991 due to the Gulf War, 2005 after devastation in the Gulf of Mexico from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2011 during the Libyan crisis, twice in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and in response to the 2026 Iran war. The emergency stocks release announced in 2026 was the largest in the IEA's history, totalling 400 million barrels.
In addition to the emergency release mechanism, the IEA's initial mandates include reducing dependence on oil, developing alternative energy sources, energy research and development, and collaboration with oil-producing companies and countries to create a stable energy market. Members are expected to draw up plans on demand reduction and efficiency measures that can be implemented during energy emergencies.
In September 2015, the IEA's chief economist Fatih Birol was appointed executive director, the first time an official from within the organization was picked to lead it. They have a mandate to modernize the agency on three major pillars: broadening the IEA's mandate on energy security beyond oil to include natural gas and electricity; increasing engagement in emerging economies through new Association partnerships; and expanding the IEA's core focus on clean energy technology and energy efficiency. That December, the Paris Agreement was adopted at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) and the Agency transitioned into direct advocacy for the shipping industry to adopt greener alternatives to hydrocarbon fuels.
The new category of "Association countries" was created in 2015, allowing countries that do not fit the criteria for IEA membership to become affiliated with the organization and participate in its work. China, Indonesia, and Thailand were the first to join and the IEA now has thirteen Association countries, including Ukraine since July 2022. IEA member and Association countries represent over 75% of global energy consumption.
In 2021, IEA chief Birol called on policymakers to do more to accelerate the clean energy transition and reduce emissions, saying that "Clean-energy technologies are slowly but surely going to replace the existing energy industry." The following year, Birole was appointed to an unprecedented third four-year leadership term.
After the IEA's 2022 Ministerial meeting, a bi-annual high-level meeting of IEA countries, member countries once again expanded the organisation's mandate to include accelerating the global clean energy transition by "supporting countries in the global effort to attain net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector by mid-century." The "IEA 3.0" mandate also doubles down on strengthening energy security and recognizes the importance of tracking critical minerals and materials to the clean energy transition.
Leadership Executive Directors of the International Energy AgencyNo.NameCountry of originTook officeLeft officePrevious positionRef.1Ulf Lantzke197531 March 1984Special Advisor on Energy Issues to the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)2Helga Steeg1 July 198430 September 1994Director-General for Trade, Federal Ministry of Finance of the Federal Republic of GermanyScott, vol. 1, p. 260Scott, vol. 4, p. 663Robert Priddle1 December 199431 December 2002Head of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, UK Department of Energy and Trade and Industry4Claude Mandil1 February 200331 August 2007Chairman and CEO of the Institut français du pétrole, 2000–20035Nobuo Tanaka1 September 200731 August 2011Director for Science, Technology and Industry at the OECD, 1992–20076Maria van der Hoeven1 September 201131 August 2015Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, 2007–20107Fatih Birol1 September 2015IncumbentChief Economist, International Energy Agency
Structure The IEA's structure includes a Governing Board, Ministerial Meetings, and Standing Groups and Committees.
The Governing Board constitutes the main decision-making body of the organisation. It is composed of member country representatives and meets three to four times a year. The Governing Board is responsible for the IEA's administrative proceedings and approving binding decisions in relation to energy developments.
The IEA Ministerial Meeting is the biennial gathering of energy ministers who determine the broad direction of the IEA. The Ministerial allows for the development of ideas which are subsequently put to the Governing Board.
Standing Groups meet multiple times a year and are made up of officials from member states. The IEA has several Standing Groups and Committees, focusing on energy research and technology, long-term cooperation, emergency preparedness, and other topics.
Membership The 32 member countries and 13 association countries of the IEA represent 75% of global energy demand.
Member countries Only OECD member states may join the IEA. Members are required to maintain total oil stock levels equivalent to at least 90 days of the previous year's net imports. Member countries commit to respond to significant oil disruptions through a collective action to allow more crude oil to enter the global market. CountryMembershipNotes197918 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member5 February 200118 November 1974Founding member9 May 20141992199218 November 1974Founding member19763 June 199718 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member 2024202218 November 1974Founding member201818 November 1974Founding member197718 November 1974Founding member (under a special Agreement)198125 September 200830 November 200720 April 200118 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member18 November 1974Founding member
Accession countries Accession countries are those going through the process of becoming full members. The process involves authorisation by the Governing Board, discussions with the executive director, and the sharing of information related to the criteria for membership with the Secretariat.
The following countries are undergoing the accession process:
Association countries Association was formally launched in 2015 with a 13 country membership. The IEA collaborates with Association countries on a wide range of energy-related issues determined through joint programmes of work. Association countries may also participate in most Standing Groups and Ministerial meetings. India officially declared its "Association" status with the International Energy Agency (IEA) on March 30, 2017. Egypt and Argentina joined as Association countries in March 2022, and Ukraine was formally invited on 16 June 2022, and joined in July 2022.In July 2025, Brazil started the process to become a member country.
As of October 2026 the IEA has 14 association countries:
Areas of work The IEA produces analyses on all energy sources and technologies, on global and regional markets, as well as specific country-level reports and studies on key technologies, minerals, and materials for the clean energy transition. It also produces comprehensive data and statistics for over 150 countries.
The IEA's analytical work is split into various categories including policy recommendations, tracking, market forecasts, technical roadmapping, and scenario analysis.
Data The IEA publishes comprehensive data, statistics, and analysis that inform national energy policies and support long-term planning for energy sector investments. The IEA analyses and releases data and information on trends in energy supply, demand, prices, public research and development, and energy efficiency metrics. The data also serves to track short- and long-term trends in countries energy transitions.
The Policies and Measures Database (PAMS) makes available to the public data on government policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions, support energy efficiency, and improve the development and use of renewable and clean energy sources. The database compiles data from several IEA and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) data sources dating back to 1999 and includes information on past, current, and planned policy measures.
Scenarios IEA publications give projections based on sets of assumptions called scenarios, with criteria that includes:
Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS): Assumes implementation of governments' existing policies and firm commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.