Fatih Birol

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency and a leading voice on energy security and the clean transition. He discusses why the Middle East crisis is the biggest energy shock, limits of strategic oil releases, Europe’s historic energy missteps, the rise of electrification and grids as the new battleground, and how cheap power will shape AI and industrial competitiveness.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency and expert in global energy markets, offers urgent analysis of the current crisis. He explains why the Middle East shock dwarfs past energy disruptions. He discusses strategic oil releases, Europe's costly policy mistakes, and the accelerating shift to electrification, renewables, and a nuclear revival.

This week’s guest is Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency and one of the world’s foremost energy economists. Fatih has been in-post since 2015, and is a returning guest to Cleaning Up, having appeared on Episode 28, all the way back in January 2021. Under Fatih’s leadership, the IEA has expanded its mandate to become a leading voice on clean energy technologies, energy efficiency and net-zero pathways.Few people have as clear a view on the entire energy sector as Fatih, so Michael headed to Paris and IEA HQ to hear insights on surging EV sales, the urgent need for grid modernization and expansion, and a reality-check on hydrogen's role on the path to net-zero. Make sure you like, subscribe, and share Cleaning Up. We're growing fast on LinkedIn, and we'd love for you tell your professional network about us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cleaning-up-with-michael-liebreich/You can find everything you need to keep up with Cleaning Up here: https://linktr.ee/mlcleaningup Links and Related EpisodesWatch Fatih’s first appearance on Episode 28 of Cleaning Up here: https://www.cleaningup.live/episode-28-dr-fatih-birol/Watch Episode 131 with Tzeporah Berman here: https://www.cleaningup.live/ep131-tzeporah-berman-canadas-controversial-queen-of-green/Read Fatih’s latest thought leadership here:“COP28 is a moment of truth for the oil and gas industry’s efforts on climate”: https://www.iea.org/commentaries/cop28-is-a-moment-of-truth-for-the-oil-and-gas-industry-s-efforts-on-climate“Where things stand in the global energy crisis one year on”: https://www.iea.org/commentaries/where-things-stand-in-the-global-energy-crisis-one-year-onFatih’s official bio is available here: https://www.iea.org/contributors/dr-fatih-birolRead the IEA’s flagship 2021 report, Net Zero by 2050: https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050In the news:Time: Exclusive: IEA Head Fatih Birol Wants The Fossil Fuel Industry To Set Climate Targets: https://time.com/6284159/iea-fatih-birol-oil-gas-emission-targets/Euractiv: IEA chief calls for ‘serious self-criticism’ among EU’s nuclear opponents: https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/iea-chief-calls-for-serious-self-criticism-among-eus-nuclear-opponents/ Guest BioDr Fatih Birol has served as Executive Director of the IEA since 2015, taking up his current position after rising through the ranks of the IEA over two decades, from junior analyst to Chief Economist. He has been named in TIME's annual list of the world's 100 most influential people and by Forbes as one of the most influential people in the world of energy. He chairs the World Economic Forum’s (Davos) Energy Advisory Board. As Chief Economist at the IEA, he oversaw the World Energy Outlook series, the authoritative source for energy analysis and projections and flagship publication of the IEA. Fatih holds a BSc in Power Engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul, and an MSc and Ph.D. in Energy Economics from the Technical University of Vienna. Fatih is the recipient of numerous state decorations, including the French Legion of Honour and the Japanese Emperor’s Order of the Rising Sun. 

Stephen Sackur speaks to Fatih Birol, Head of the International Energy Agency, about the global energy transition and its challenges. They discuss the decline of fossil fuel demand, the growth of solar energy in India, the role of carbon capture and storage, and the upcoming COP meeting in Dubai.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, discusses the EU's historic decision to accelerate the phase-out of Russian gas, marking a significant shift in energy policy. He emphasizes the need to diversify energy sources to avoid reliance on a single supplier, and explores the challenges Russia faces in redirecting its gas exports to China. Birol also addresses the political timing of a potential EU oil ban, warns about Ukraine's energy struggles this winter, and highlights the importance of investing in smart grids for electricity security.