The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974 within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to implement an international energy programme. The IEA fosters a comprehensive programme of energy co-ordination among 26 of the OECD's 30 member countries. The basic aims of the IEA include:

• Promotion of rational energy policies in a global context through co-operative relations with non-member countries, industry and international organizations;
• Improvement of the world's energy supply and demand structure by developing alternative energy sources and increasing the efficiency of energy use;
• Assist in the integration of environmental and energy policies.

Much of the work of the IEA is carried out under the terms of over 40 collaborative implementing agreements.

The IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEA GHG), an international collaborative research programme, was established in November 1991, under the terms of an IEA Implementing Agreement.. It is currently supported by 17 member countries (includes Australia, Japan, India Korea and New Zealand from the Asia-Pacific region), the European Commission and fourteen multi-national industrial sponsors.

The IEA GHG has three main activities:

• Evaluation of technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
• Promotion and dissemination of results and data from its evaluation studies;
• Facilitating practical research, development and demonstration activities

The Executive Committee for IEA GHG consists of representatives from government, industry and public sector bodies from each of the member countries. The Committee meets twice a year as a high level board to decide on topics to be the subject of study and to review progress. The Programme's activities are managed by an operating agent, IEA Environmental Projects Ltd, in the UK. The operating agent, through the IEA GHG project team, is responsible for delivering the work programme decided by the Executive Committee and for the efficient management of the common funds.

The work programme is financed primarily from the annual contributions of members and sponsors. The size of these contributions is determined by the Executive Committee and is based on a scale related to CO2 emissions in each country. A small but efficient Programme project team develops and manages the technical studies to meet members' requirements. Each study is carried out by a suitably qualified contractor, selected on the basis of competitive international tenders. The draft report from each study is reviewed by experts in relevant fields, selected on the basis of suggestions from the Executive Committee, before being finalised and forwarded to members.

Recognising the continued dominance of fossil fuels in meeting the World's energy needs, the Programme's activities are directed mainly to assessments of technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production and use as well as the costs associated with the application of these technologies. This has the objective of providing a sound information base that can be used to guide industry and government on the technological options available and in the formulation of rational policy to promote and encourage mitigation initiatives.

In Phase 1 (1991-94) the focus was primarily on the use of fossil fuels for electric power generation with the comparison of different mitigation options on a consistent basis. Options for increasing efficiencies of power generation systems, technologies for capturing carbon dioxide, options for carbon dioxide storage and use were examined with regard to technical feasibility and use. Twenty four assessments of relevant technologies were accomplished and included one of the first attempts to carry out an extensive study of the methodology for undertaking full fuel cycle analyses.

In Phase 2 (1994-1997) the studies were extended to address methane, as well as carbon dioxide, emissions in the coal, oil, gas and waste disposal industries. Also, following on from Phase 1, the Programme addressed major uncertainties about the technology for capture and storage of carbon dioxide (options for reducing the cost of capture; also the environmental impact and long term security of carbon dioxide storage). There were nineteen studies in Phase 2.

Phase 3 (1997-2000) included new initiatives in studies to progress the assessment of technologies for power generation and carbon dioxide capture, storage and utilisation as well as the enhancement of natural sinks for carbon dioxide. The program was also been extended to address the generation and mitigation of carbon dioxide in other industries (oil refining, petrochemical, cement , aluminium, iron and steel). Thirty six studies were completed in Phase 3.

Phase 4 (2000-2004) The Programme's work continued with two main objectives. These were -Improving the technologies for abatement of greenhouse gas emissions and ; Increasing the understanding of their potential for key audiences. These objectives were addressed under four themes - Evaluating technology options; Improving key mitigation technologies; Implementing mitigation technologies; Improving understanding of mitigation technologies. Thirty seven studies were completed in Phase 4

Phase 5 (2004-2012) has 3 strategic themes:

1. Generating technology and market information on CO2 Capture & Storage (CCS) and related options (with three sub themes - Technology evaluation; Helping move mitigation technologies towards application; and Awareness of developments)

2. Building networks and confidence in mitigation technology and

3. Improving availability of information about CCS

IEA GHG, with its global links, is in a unique position to facilitate cooperation between the leading research groups on greenhouse mitigation. In this capacity IEA GHG has initiated and coordinates several international research networks. The networks bring together the expertise and experience of organizations at the front of research development and demonstration into greenhouse gas mitigation. The networks currently being managed by IEA GHG include the 'International Network for CO₂ Capture', the 'International Network on Biofixation of CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Abatement with Mitigation and the 'international Monitoring Network', the latter covering the monitoring of injected CO₂ in geological formations.

For more information on the Programme refer to www.ieagreen.org.uk