Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), delivered a stark assessment of the energy landscape at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey. Speaking on November 13, 2026, Birol asserted that the war in Iran has triggered an irreversible shift in global energy dynamics. He emphasized that the world will never return to the pre-war energy environment, citing a structural transformation driven by energy security concerns.
The IEA chief highlighted that countries are increasingly turning to renewable energy and efficiency measures to reduce reliance on imported fuels. Policies this year, such as Indonesia's push for biodiesel and Bangladesh's incentives for solar and storage, reflect this trend. Birol also noted broader implications, including economic diversification in oil-exporting nations, new trade partnerships, and investments in next-generation technologies like batteries and nuclear power.
A central theme at COP31 is electrification, with less than a quarter of final energy consumption currently coming from electricity. The COP31 presidency aims to raise this figure to 35% by 2035. Birol pointed out that electrification, particularly when powered by renewables, enhances energy security and reshapes trade relationships. The IEA's September report on electrification projected that annual global investment in electricity generation, battery storage, and grids could reach $2.5 trillion by 2035 if electrification accelerates.
Birol concluded that the world is firmly in the 'age of electricity,' a phase he first predicted two years ago. This shift promises to reduce the geopolitical dominance of oil and gas while elevating the importance of critical minerals and clean technology supply chains.