Energy effi ciency governance - an emerging priority

End-use energy efficiency is widely accepted as providing least-cost solutions to greenhouse gas mitigation and energy supply. However, maximising this potential resource is proving difficult, even elusive. Despite widespread energy effi ciency policies cov-ering many sectors, most evaluations show that we are falling well short of the potential level of energy efficiency. One reason for this is that estimates of potential tend to cover the whole of an economy or large sectors, whereas policy measures tend to be targeted towards individual, smaller parts of the economy. The authors contend that the energy efficiency potential within an economy will not be maximised without understanding the complete governance framework – the central mechanism for marshalling drivers within the public and private sectors of an economy – and ensuring that it is aligned towards energy efficiency. This paper explores the rationale for focusing on energy efficiency governance. In doing so, we attempt to defi ne energy efficiency governance and present a conceptual framework for the better understanding of the issues involved. Aft er review-ing the available literature in this field we present a description of the IEA governance programme of work that aims to assist countries to establish the most effective energy efficiency institutional structures at national and local levels.