The IEA convened a high-level roundtable at its Paris headquarters on strengthening energy infrastructure resilience and international cooperation in the face of extreme weather events, cyberattacks, and other shocks and strains. Ministers and senior government officials from countries around the world attended alongside representatives from regulators, insurers, investors, the private sector, academia and civil society.
The roundtable featured opening remarks by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and a special address by Laurent Fabius, former Prime Minister of France and Chair of the Circle of COP Presidents. Norway's Minister of Energy Terje Lien Aasland, Lithuania's Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, and the Netherlands' Vice Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Michel Heijdra delivered keynote contributions. Session chairs included senior officials from France, Japan, Spain and the IEA, with interventions by industry leaders and representatives from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
The discussions focused on how energy systems can be better prepared to withstand and manage risks stemming from natural hazards, cyberattacks and other threats, and how resilience can be systematically integrated into energy infrastructure investments and energy security policy.
Energy security is the founding principle of the IEA's mission. On top of longstanding risks such as potential disruptions to oil and gas supplies, other energy security concerns have emerged and risen in prominence, including critical mineral supply chains, electricity system reliability and energy infrastructure resilience.
"Energy systems are exposed to a growing array of risks - from geopolitical tensions and cyberattacks to natural hazards, including extreme weather," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "Strengthening the resilience of infrastructure is not optional, it is an essential part of safeguarding energy, economic and national security."
IEA analysis finds that in 2023 alone, nearly 300 extreme weather events disrupted the secure operation of energy infrastructure worldwide, with most of these incidents affecting the power sector, impacting more than 290 million households. As these hazards intensify with climate change, the costs of such disruptions are rising sharply. For example, the cost to electricity systems resulting from increased air conditioning during heatwaves has nearly tripled since the mid-1990s.
Delegates at the roundtable noted that, while vulnerabilities differ across regions and technologies, electricity systems are becoming more important and complex in increasingly digital and electrified economies. Participants discussed a wide spectrum of measures, ranging from reinforcing physical infrastructure and deploying advanced monitoring technologies to diversifying supply, improving early warning systems and ensuring adequate backup capacity.
Speakers emphasised the urgent need for better data and tracking of extreme weather impacts on energy systems, combined with advanced planning and stronger cross-border coordination. Financing resilience measures and insuring energy assets against growing risks emerged as key issues, with participants from the insurance sector highlighting how risk reduction measures can also lower the cost of capital for energy projects.
A central issue was the role of the public sector, with discussions over where measures can be advanced by industry alone - and where government and regulatory involvement is essential. This was framed within the broader challenge of balancing consumer affordability with the need for greater investment in resilience. Many participants also underscored the importance of close collaboration between government and industry to move this agenda forward.
The exchanges throughout the day highlighted the importance of data, innovation, investment and collaboration in building energy systems resilient to both current and future risks. A summary capturing the key outcomes from the roundtable is available by clicking here.