Energy efficiency is the amount of energy produced in proportion to the amount of energy used to produce it. Energy efficiency is calculated by dividing the energy obtained (useful energy or energy output) by the initial energy (energy input).

Energy efficiency can be measured in many ways. The metric used for tracking economy-wide energy efficiency and the global energy efficiency goal is energy intensity. 

Energy intensity is the amount of energy required to produce a unit of GDP. This is a key measure of energy efficiency of the economy. For example, in 2022, global energy intensity improved by just over 2% in 2022. This means that a unit of energy consumed in 2022 generated 2% more economic output than it did in 2021. - Primary energy intensity improvement is the percentage decrease in the ratio of global total energy supply per unit of GDP. - Rate of global primary energy intensity improvement is the indicator used to track progress on global energy efficiency. The rate is defined as the percentage decrease in the ratio of global total energy supply (MJ) per unit of gross domestic product ((year) YYYY Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Purchasing power parity (PPP)).

Doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 is a global target using energy intensity as a metric. This goal can be interpreted in two ways:  - Doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement using a 2010 baseline as per SDG7.3: This goal, as first stated in the SDGs calls for a doubling of the rate of energy efficiency using a benchmark of 2010 global energy intensity improvements which sat at 1.7%. Doubling this rate this decade would mean a rate of improvement of 3.4%, on average, annually up to 2030. - Doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement in alignment with the IEA’s NZE Scenario: In the NZE Scenario global energy intensity falls (improves) by around 4% per year on average this decade (2020 - 2030). As 2022 saw a global energy intensity improvement, on average, of just over 2%, this interpretation is sometimes described as using 2022 as a baseline for the energy efficiency doubling goal.

The global goal to double improvement in energy efficiency annually aligns with the IEA’s call for a global average 4% improvement rate annually in energy intensity by 2030. The achievement of this goal will look different across different national contexts as the baseline for intensity improvement rates will differ between countries. 

EA’s 2022 Energy Efficiency report highlighted that energy efficiency-related investment increases reached record levels in 2022 in response to the energy crisis. Energy efficiency investment increased by 16% to USD 600 billion in 2022 due to government stimulus programmes (e.g. US IRA, REPowerEU, Japan GX) driving spending on efficient buildings and with growing popularity of electric vehicles and heat pumps. However, energy efficiency investments faced significant headwinds in 2023 with rising interest rates and inflation. The IEA modelling estimates that investment in energy efficiency will need to triple by 2030 to nearly $2 trillion USD to reach a target of more than 4% energy intensity improvements. For the full more, see: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/global-energy-efficiency-related-end-use-investment-in-the-net-zero-scenario-2019-2030.

Mission Efficiency was born as the Three Percent Club at the 2019 Climate Action Summit in New York City as a coalition of governments, organizations, and initiatives coming together to accelerate the transition towards energy-efficient economies worldwide at a three percent per year rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The club was rebranded as Mission Efficiency in 2022 at the SEforALL Forum in Kigali Rwanda to be a more inclusive and intuitive initiative that will improve global understanding of energy efficiency and share expertise and resources needed to deliver progress and solutions on energy efficiency and climate action.

A joint declaration from G20 leaders identifying priority goals and areas for collaboration among the G20 bloc. The Leaders’ Declaration noted the Voluntary Action Plan on Doubling the Rate of Energy Efficiency Improvement by 2030 and included language on the importance to accelerate the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies, to transition towards low-emission energy systems, including by rapidly scaling up the deployment of clean power generation, including renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency measures, including accelerating efforts towards phasedown of unabated coal power, in line with national circumstances and recognizing the need for support towards just transitions. For more, see: https://www.g20.org/content/dam/gtwenty/gtwenty_new/document/G20-New-Delhi-Leaders-Declaration.pdf 

An output of the G20 Energy Transitions Ministers’ Meeting Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary (22 July 2023) which outlines key sectors for delivery of the doubling goal including buildings, industry, transport, finance, and sustainable consumption patterns. For more, see: https://www.g20.org/content/dam/gtwenty/gtwenty_new/document/G20_ETWG_Annex_B.pdf 

Civil society, the High Ambition Coalition and other progressive voices are calling for a COP28 agreement on goals to triple global renewable capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030, alongside accelerating fossil fuel phase-out is critical. This will stimulate clean energy investment and help countries to develop ambitious and effective policies and pathways for their just energy transition. An ambitious COP outcome based on consensus will be crucial in tilting the policy and investment landscape to renewables and energy efficiency. 

A joint statement from the African Heads of State and Government who gathered for the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) in Nairobi Kenya from September 4-6, 2023. The Declaration called upon world leaders to to appreciate that decarbonizing the global economy is also an opportunity to contribute to equality and shared prosperity and invited development partners from the global south and north to align and coordinate their technical and financial resources to promote sustainable development of Africa’s natural assets for the continent’s progression towards low-carbon development and contributing to global decarbonization. Within this declaration, the African Leaders called upon the international community to contribute to multiple action areas including accelerating efforts to decarbonize the transport, industrial and electricity sectors through the use of smart, digital and highly efficient technologies and systems. For more, see: https://media.africaclimatesummit.org/NAIROBI+Declaration+FURTHER+edited+060923+EN+920AM.pdf?request-content-type=%22application/force-download%22 

A recognition from participants (African Union, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Mongolia, Oman, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Togo, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay) that there is potential for the annual energy intensity improvement rate to double from its current level, so as to ensure prosperity and sustainable economic growth and in order to be in line with global climate goals. The statement noted that ambitious actions should be taken by every country across all sectors, taking into consideration different starting points and national circumstances, to lead to an acceleration in overall global energy efficiency progress and to reduce energy demand, where possible. The statement also urged the Parties and all stakeholders at COP28 to raise their ambition and strengthen energy efficiency policy implementation in line with the Paris Agreement, and work towards an energy efficiency pledge at COP28. For the full statement, see: https://www.iea.org/news/versailles-statement-the-crucial-decade-for-energy-efficiency 

The Versailles Statement, signed by more than 45 government ministers in June 2023, supported ‘stronger policies and actions towards the goal of putting the world on track to achieving a doubling of the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements this decade, in line with the IEA Net Zero by 2050 Scenario’. The Mission Efficiency Call to Action specifically calls for all Parties to the Paris Agreement to support a global goal to double energy efficiency improvements annually through 2030, aligned with the IEA’s Net Zero Scenario. The Mission Efficiency Pledge provides members and partners to pledge a concrete commitment to support and drive delivery on this goal going forwards.