The Future Role of the International Energy Agency

October 14, 2009

On October 14, 2009, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, CSIS Counselor and Trustee, delivered a keynote address to the International Energy Agency in Paris to mark the 35th anniversary of its creation and discuss its future amidst a landscape of evolving energy, climate, and geopolitical realities.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to join you this evening, particularly to commemorate this auspicious occasion – the 35th anniversary of the establishment of International Energy Agency. Feeling like its father, I take special pride in being here. Much has changed since 1973, and I believe that the IEA now stands at a critical juncture that beckons a thoughtful contemplation of its future. Over the course of my lifetime, I have become many things, but an energy expert is not among them. Consequently, I am reluctant to offer specific prescriptions for how the IEA should evolve. There are many in this audience better suited to that task. But what I can offer are a few observations on the challenges and realities that confront us today, and thoughts regarding some of the key issues that the IEA and its member countries must surely address as we collectively grapple with shaping the world around us..."