The International Energy Agency (IEA) convened the Clean Energy Labour Council today on the sidelines of the IEA’s 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency. Highlighting the key findings of a new paper, members of the Council discussed the need to develop policy approaches that centre workers and workforce needs as energy transitions advance around the world.

The Clean Energy Labour Council, established by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in 2022, consists of 14 labour union leaders. It meets several times per year and aims to give a greater voice to the labour perspective in energy and climate policy discussions.

Earlier this week, the Council released its first publication, Ensuring a Strong Labour Dimension for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions, which focuses on the importance of ensuring just and inclusive energy transitions for workers and communities. The paper covers a wide range of labour-related issues, such as the need to design high-quality clean energy jobs that can attract new workers to the sector. It also calls for coordinated efforts to properly plan, implement and monitor just energy transitions – stressing the important role of social dialogue and engagement among all stakeholders.

During the meeting, the paper was presented by the Labour Council co-chairs to Ministers, policy makers and representatives of the G20 and COP30 Presidencies – many of whom had been attending the IEA’s 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency – with the goal of helping to shape national and international energy and climate discussions.

“Greater efforts are needed to ensure that energy transitions are just, inclusive and people-centred. Workers must be included in these discussions, and all stakeholders should collaborate to ensure new opportunities and quality jobs for the workers and communities that are impacted,” said Brian Motherway, Head of the IEA’s Office for Energy Efficiency and Inclusive Transitions. “To seize the opportunities ahead – and address the challenges – leaders must think locally, as well as nationally and internationally, as they design, implement and monitor new policies. This is key to delivering on the promise of energy transitions that improve people’s lives.”

Workers are vital to the global energy system. An estimated 67.5 million people were employed in the energy sector in 2023, with approximately 2 million additional jobs created in 2024. Participants in the Council meeting emphasised that these millions of skilled workers are central to securing a safe, reliable and sustainable energy supply and, in turn, to ensuring energy security worldwide.