US may leave IEA if climate focus not reformed, Energy Secretary says

"We're either going to reform the IEA or we will leave the IEA. My strong preference is that we reform it," Wright said at an event in New York hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

The Paris-based IEA has been providing research and data to industrialized governments for over half a century to guide policy on energy security, supply, and investment. The United States contributes approximately a quarter of the group's funding.

In recent years, the IEA has expanded its focus beyond oil and gas supply to include clean energy, as member governments sought input on meeting their goals under the Paris climate agreement and transitioning away from fossil fuel reliance. However, the Trump administration and the oil industry have criticized the IEA's attention on climate change, urging the agency to concentrate primarily on oil, gas, and coal. Wright expressed a desire to reform the agency to "focus on its core mission - and deliver it well and thoughtfully - not scenarios that are more politically popular."