The first ever global analysis of light duty vehicle characteristics, including fuel economy, shows that faster rates of improvement over the next 10-20 years will be needed in order to meet the targets of the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI). The new report "International comparison of light-duty vehicle fuel economy and related characteristics", produced by the IEA in cooperation with the GFEI, presents the ground breaking analysis of light-duty vehicle characteristics, including fuel economy, covering close to 90% of global car sales in 22 major markets and the EU.

Increased focus has been placed on the issues of energy access and energy poverty over the last number of years, most notably indicated by the United Nations (UN) declaring 2012 as the “International Year of Sustainable Energy for All”. Although attention in these topics has increased, incorrect assumptions and misunderstandings still arise in both the literature and dialogues. Access to energy does not only include electricity, does not only include cook stoves, but must include access to all types of energy that form the overall energy system.