UK PM, EU Chief Address Future Energy Security Summit
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission addressed the international Summit on the Future of Energy Security in London today where 120 high-level figures – including Ministers, CEOs and leaders of international institutions and civil society organisations – are gathering this week to lay the foundations for a more holistic approach to energy security for today’s fast-changing world.
Convened by the IEA in partnership with the UK government, the two-day Summit opens today, bringing together some 60 governments from all continents. The high-level participants represent a broad spectrum of perspectives and priorities – including major energy importers and exporters, and countries facing challenges in terms of energy access, affordability and climate resilience. Together, they are seeking to forge a stronger consensus on how to best address both traditional and emerging energy security risks.
UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol will co-chair the event and feature among the key speakers.
“Energy is the foundation of modern life,” Dr Birol said. “But without energy security, there can be no economic stability, energy poverty will remain unsolved, and we will not be able to meet our sustainability goals. Fifty years on from the IEA’s establishment, this Summit highlights that energy security remains as important as ever.”
Secretary Miliband said: “The world is entering a new era, and it is clearer than ever that there can be no national security without energy security. That’s why the UK is showing global leadership alongside the International Energy Agency by bringing the world together for the first major global summit on clean energy as energy security. We are co-hosting this Summit to come together and cooperate on rising to the challenges we face and seizing the opportunities to act.”
The two-day Summit comes at a pivotal moment. Recent years have brought numerous energy-related shocks – from the global pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to supply chain disruptions, extreme weather events, and cyberattacks. At the same time, the global energy landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the expansion of clean energy technologies, shifting patterns in supply and demand, electrification and geopolitical developments.
In response, the Summit will explore how to strengthen energy security – individually and collectively – through an approach that reflects these changes. Discussions will span a wide range of topics, including:
“The world is entering a new age of electricity, driven by clean energy technologies and digital innovation,” said Dr Birol. “This brings new opportunities but also new vulnerabilities. Diversification of supply – whether it’s oil, gas or critical minerals – remains a golden rule of energy security. We must be prepared to act quickly and collectively.”
The IEA has long served as the world’s leading authority on energy security, originally established over 50 years ago following the 1973 oil shock. This week’s Summit is a recognition that while the nature of risks may be evolving, the need for secure, reliable and affordable energy remains as vital as ever.
On 23 April, a series of high-level orbital events brought together decision makers and experts from government, industry and academia to inform the main Summit discussions. Topics included gas security, critical minerals, gender, methane, and support for Ukraine’s energy system.
Key sessions of the Summit are being livestreamed on the IEA’s digital platforms, including through the official Summit event page.
https://www.iea.org/news/uk-prime-minister-and-european-commission-president-address-international-summit-on-the-future-of-energy-security