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Government Reactions

30 November 2009, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Waldemar Pawlak
"The World Energy Outlook is the most detailed and relevant publication on the energy sector and it clearly shows the interdependence between energy, climate protection and economic development."

26 November 2009, Belgian Minister of Climate and Energy, Paul Magnette
Speaking at the World Energy Outlook 2009 presentation in Brussels, Mr. Paul Magnette, Belgian Minister of Climate and Energy, said: "We are in the final rush to Copenhagen, we all realise that this is a very very important moment and I tend to think that this is probably the most or one of the two or three most important international negotiations of the post-war period. This period must be absolutely a success. The World Energy Outlook 2009 in this respect is a very interesting and very important contribution. You all know that this is kind of a bible in the energy community around the world. It is read and commented very carefully. And this is a very interesting contribution, not only because it gives us a very precise and clear overview of the market evolution and evolution of the demand, but also of the general economic context."

25 November 2009, Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Taneli Vanhanen
Speaking at the World Energy Outlook 2009 presentation in Helsinki, Mr. Matti Taneli Vanhanen , Finnish Prime Minister, said: "The World Energy Outlook scenario being presented today shows that global emissions can be cut quickly and sharply. This requires the participation of all industrialised countries and the central emerging economies. We need a 'low-carbon revolution' involving all countries as comprehensively as possible. No country or country grouping can solve this challenge alone; for the first time, among States we are negotiating about the future of the Earth [...] We can see that the low-emission path outlined by the WEO creates a long-lasting and strong worldwide demand for technology that mitigates climate change."

18 November 2009, Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Stefano Saglia
Speaking at the World Energy Outlook 2009 presentation in Rome, Hon. Stefano Saglia, the Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development, said: "The WEO 2009 serves as a very useful input for governments to shape their national energy strategies which needs to take into high consideration the international energy scenario".

17 November 2009, Norway Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Riis-Johansen
"This year's World Energy Outlook visualises how critical the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen will be: If no agreement is reached in December, IEAs analysis estimates that the cost for the world will be enormous: to quote directly from the World Energy Outlook: it will cost us 500 billions US Dollar - a year", said Minister Riis-Johansen.
Read Minister speech.

13 November 2009, EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs
"The findings of the World Energy Outlook 2009 confirm that the EU energy and climate change policies are steering Europe firmly in the right direction. The transition toward a low carbon economy is urgently needed, not only in Europe but also globally. The findings of the report are a welcome contribution as we prepare to push for an ambitious global climate agreement in Copenhagen and as we continue to develop and implement our energy policy," said Commissioner Piebalgs.

12 November 2009, Ms M.J.A. van der Hoeven, the Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs
Speaking at the World Energy Outlook 2009 presentation in The Hague, Ms M.J.A. van der Hoeven, the Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs, said: "This edition of the World Energy Outlook again has important messages, I only highlighted two of them. Let me end by complimenting Mr. Tanaka and Mr. Birol with yet another outstanding publication. The World Energy Outlook exists since 1993, so this is the 17th edition. Over the last 10 years Mr. Fatih Birol has been responsible for what has indeed become IEA's flagship publication. Mr. Birol, I would like to congratulate you on this anniversary and present you with a small token of my appreciation." Read Minister speech

10 November 2009, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard
"World Energy Outlook 2009 provides clear messages for the climate negotiations in Copenhagen. Limiting the temperature rise below 2 degrees celcius is both doable and affordable. And waiting will impose tremendous costs on our societies. With this report the IEA shows that the solution is within reach. Now it is up to politicians to show they have the will to seize it," says Connie Hedegaard. See quote

15 October 2009, Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
In the message sent to the IEA Ministerial held in Paris 14-15 October 2009, Mr. Yvo De Boer, Executive secretary of UNFCCC stated : "The WEO 2009 presents the most up to date, comprehensive analysis of how the energy sector can deliver on a climate change deal in Copenhagen. It is also the first analysis that includes the impact of the financial and economic crisis on this sector and its emissions. Four clear and compelling messages emerge from the report".
see full message

14 October 2009, United States Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu
US Secretary of Energy Dr. Chu, speaking at the IEA Ministerial Meeting held in Paris on 14-15 October, quoted IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol's statement about fossil fuel subsidies and said "IEA will play a critical role in helping nations phase out subsidies on fossil fuels"
see IEA Ministerial 2009

27 November 2008, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Mr. Waldemar Pawlak
Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Waldemar Pawlak, said "World Energy Outlook is a most extensive and detailed publication of the IEA, and this report will be a very valuable source of information for us as we complete our work on the Energy Policy of Poland till 2030."
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20 November 2008, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources of Ireland, Eamon Ryan
With the launch of the WEO 2008 in Dublin, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said, "The Outlook highlights energy challenges we face globally. We must learn from the connection between energy prices and our current economic difficulties. We must learn from this report that an unsustainable energy path will only store up an energy crunch for the future. We need to lift our economy now; following the guidance and evidence in this report will allow us to do just that."
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19 November 2008, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, Astrid Klug
With the launch of the WEO 2008 in Berlin, Astrid Klug, Parliamentary State Secretary at the ministry, said "The report shows once more: We need a global energy turnaround to keep climate change in a controllable frame and to prevent an increase of the average temperature of more than two degrees Celsius. The message of the World Energy Outlook is clear: We need a long term and sustainable strategy. The community of states has to set the course for this 2009 in Copenhagen and must define effective emission reduction targets."
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18 November 2008, Chairman of the US House Science and Technology Committee, Bart Gordon
"Once again, we have a definitive report that shows the grave danger and serious challenges presented by energy security and climate change. The IEA correctly notes that ‘current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable.’ In the past we have made incremental shifts in our energy investments, but clearly, these are not enough. The 2008 World Energy Outlook projects that worldwide, we will need more than $26 trillion in new energy investment by 2030 just to meet demand. This is exactly why we need a transformational change in the way we develop energy technology.
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