Dozens of governments have issued a joint statement agreeing to make energy efficiency a cornerstone of energy policy in recognition of its critical role in building resilience against future energy shocks, improving affordability for consumers and boosting economic competitiveness.

In the statement, governments called for stronger action on energy efficiency, including increased support for vulnerable households and businesses, renewed efforts to improve efficiency in buildings and data centres, and measures to unlock investment without creating unnecessary administrative burdens.

The statement was issued during international organisation the International Energy Agency's (IEA's) Eleventh Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, held in Montreal, Canada.

At the meeting, Ministers and senior officials said recent disruptions to global energy markets following the war in the Middle East had reinforced the need to accelerate energy efficiency as one of the quickest and most effective ways to lower energy costs, strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to future market volatility.

Recognising that vulnerable households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were often among the hardest hit by energy price volatility, governments committed to ensuring that all people could access the benefits of energy efficiency.

Countries pledged to look for opportunities to expand policies that could ease immediate pressures while improving resilience over the longer term, the IEA said.

Further, the governments in Montreal reaffirmed the need for stronger implementation and international cooperation to unlock the full benefits of energy efficiency for people, businesses and economies worldwide.

“As successive energy crises have shown, energy efficiency remains one of the most powerful tools available to governments for strengthening energy security, lowering costs and boosting economic competitiveness. Best of all, it is a resource that every country possesses in abundance,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.

“The commitments made in Montreal today demonstrate strong international resolve to put efficiency at the heart of energy policy and accelerate progress towards a more secure, resilient and sustainable global energy system. Just as the oil crises of the 1970s drove major improvements in the way energy is used, today’s crisis is set to serve as a catalyst for faster action on efficiency,” he said.

“At a time of global uncertainty, improving how we use energy is one of the most immediate and cost‑effective ways to protect households and businesses while strengthening our economy,” said Canada Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson.

“Canada aims to double efficiency progress by 2030 and to ensure that all Canadians – and partners around the world – benefit from lower energy costs, greater energy security and sustainable growth,” he said.

Energy efficiency was one of the highest-return investments an economy could make, as it lowered the costs for households and businesses, strengthened energy security, and laid a foundation for long-term competitiveness, said Canada Environment, Climate Change and Nature Minister Julie Dabrusin.

“Canada is building a climate-competitive economy that leads in the global transition to net zero, and today's commitment, alongside our international partners, advances that goal. Improving efficiency across every sector means real savings for Canadians and a more resilient economy for all of us,” she said.

The Montreal conference builds on the discussions at the IEA’s Tenth Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, held in Brussels in 2025, and at COP28 in 2023, where countries agreed to work towards doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, in recognition of its importance in contributing to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, the IEA said.