International engagement on energy

International Energy Forum

New Zealand is a member of the International Energy Forum (IEF) and participates in several of its initiatives, including the Joint Oil Organisations Data Initiative and the International Energy Business Forum.

The IEF is a bi-annual gathering of the world's energy ministers. It has become the leading platform for producer-consumer dialogue between the International Energy Agency (IEA), member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and Russia, China and India.

The forum aims to build confidence, exchange information, and develop a better understanding of underlying energy issues affecting the world.

New Zealand is a regular participant in the IEF's bi-annual dialogue with energy ministers, and is a financial contributor to the IEF. We are also an active participant in the Joint Organisations Data Initiative.

International Energy Forum(external link)

Joint Oil Organisations Data Initiative

The IEF co-ordinates the Joint Oil Organisations Data Initiative which aims to improve oil data transparency, and in turn improve oil price volatility.

The Initiative is a partnership between the IEF and 6 other international organisations, including the IEA, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and OPEC.

The IEF's Secretariat has headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to enhance and provide continuity to the producer-consumer dialogue at ministerial level.

The structure and processes of the IEF are determined by a statue that took effect in 2011.

International Energy Business Forum

Meeting in conjunction with the IEF, the International Energy Business Forum was set up:

• to enable government ministers to interact with the chief executives of leading energy companies
• in recognition of the importance of dialogue and partnership between governments and the energy industry.

East Asia Summit Energy Cooperation Taskforce

We lead New Zealand's participation in this taskforce at officials' level, but don't participate in its subsidiary workstreams. The taskforce undertakes cooperative action on regional energy security issues.

The East Asia Summit was set up in 2005 to address the region's political and economic challenges and strategic opportunities. Membership comprises the 10 ASEAN countries and Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, and New Zealand.

Leaders of the group agreed to set up the taskforce at the second summit in 2007 when they adopted the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security(external link).

Read the Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment(external link).