Ministers attending the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday agreed to work towards a low-carbon global economy at talks that included emerging giants China, India and Russia for the first time. "This is a historic moment," Dutch Economy Minister Maria van der Hoeven, who chaired the meeting in Paris, said in a statement. "Today, we chart a course to a low-carbon economy, adequate energy investment and greater global engagement," she said.
Ministers recognised the interlinkage between energy security, sustainable energy and climate change ahead of a key global warming conference in Copenhagen in December where governments are set to discuss cutting emissions. Founded during the 1973-1974 oil crisis to co-ordinate measures during oil supply emergencies, the IEA now has 28 members including several European nations, as well as Japan, South Korea and the United States.