This study was prepared by the World Energy Outlook (WEO) team in the Directorate of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks (STO) in co‐operation with other directorates and offices of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

This study provides the starting point for this year’s energy projections and gives an overview of some of the key findings.
It explores the causes of today’s global energy crisis and the consequences. It provides projections for energy markets and energy security through three scenarios and examines what those outlooks imply for energy‐related emissions and achievement of the world’s sustainable development goals.

Furthermore, it examines the various forces that are impacting the energy sector today and the policy responses, and assesses the implications for our Outlook in 2022. It also details the basis of each of the three main scenarios and how and why they differ.