Energy efficiency progress falters amid pandemic - IEA

By Noah Browning

LONDON (Reuters) - Global progress toward energy efficiency has slowed to its lowest rate in 10 years due to subdued prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, dealing a setback to efforts to curb climate change.

"As a result of the crisis and continuing low energy prices, energy intensity is expected to improve by only 0.8% in 2020, roughly half the rates (last year)", to levels last reached in 2010, the Paris-based watchdog said in a report.

"This is well below the level needed to achieve global climate and sustainability goals" which the group puts at more than 3%.

For graphic of Energy intensity improvement: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/qzjpqordapx/energyintensity.JPG

Emptier flights, cheaper fuel, distancing measures hampering building insulation upgrades and smart meter installation as well as slower car sales due to mobility restrictions explain the slowdown, the IEA said.

The agency recommended earlier this year that policymakers use the economic pause inflicted by the pandemic to prioritise renewable energy to curb carbon emissions.

But the IEA found that squeezed state and corporate budgets have led to investment in new energy-efficient buildings, equipment and vehicles being projected to be down 9% in 2020.

For graphic of GDP relationship with energy intensity: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/dgkplanqavb/gdp.JPG

"It is especially worrying because energy efficiency delivers more than 40% of the reduction in energy-related greenhouse gas emissions over the next 20 years" according to the organization's models, it added.

(Reporting By Noah Browning; editing by Emelia Sithole-Mtarise)