One-way with Fatih Birol - 'Goalkeeper' in the top 100 most influential people in the world

On the afternoon of June 4, in Paris, France, a special meeting took place between Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and Mr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

Paris, afternoon of June 4, 2025. At the headquarters of the International Energy Agency (IEA) - a modern building located right behind the Eiffel Tower, a special meeting took place between Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Mr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA.

Luckily, I was able to meet one of the top 100 most influential people in the world , who is known as the 'energy goalkeeper'.

From Ankara to Paris: An Energy Economist 's Journey

Born in Ankara, Türkiye in 1958, Fatih Birol graduated with a degree in energy engineering from Istanbul Technical University and went on to earn a PhD in energy economics from Vienna Technical University. He joined the IEA in 1995 as an analyst, rising through the ranks to become chief economist and then Executive Director in 2015.

Accompanying Minister Nguyen Hong Dien to work with Dr. Fatih Birol, I was quite surprised to see him receiving the Minister and the delegation right in his office with special respect and utmost sincerity.

That is why I had the opportunity to witness and observe his desk. Fatih Birol's desk is not just a place for computers and documents, it is a place where layers of wisdom, vision and morality converge in a world that is spinning with energy transformation.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Head of the Vietnamese delegation working in France, had a working session with Mr. Fatih Birol - Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

On the dark brown wooden table are thick stacks of books on renewable energy, gas markets, the future of nuclear power, energy transitions, and global climate reports. The desk of a “global energy mind” is filled with books on energy and energy geopolitics: Many in-depth books on “renewable energy,” “gas markets,” “energy transition,” “climate change impacts,” “nuclear power,” “hydrogen,” and carbon policies.

Some of the books that can be seen clearly are: “ The Weather Makers” - a book about global climate change. “ World Energy Outlook” - the main publication of the IEA which he edited for many years. Analytical books and newspapers from the magazines “ The Economist”, “Financial Times” . This reflects that Mr. Birol is not only a manager, but also a reader - a lifelong learner, regularly updating trends, theories, and practical models of the world energy industry.

I also saw on his desk not plastic cups or disposable cups, but a delicate glass bottle placed neatly on the table, showing the "green living" mindset in every personal behavior. The desk was very neat, no messy papers were seen. Two symmetrical computer screens showed a person who organized his work logically and systematically.

Behind the office chair, on the wall is a calligraphy painting with oriental lines, with a round yin-yang symbol similar to Tai Chi - I Ching. This is an extremely rare detail in the leadership of a Western organization. This shows that he has a deep understanding of Eastern culture, possibly influenced by the process of working with China, Japan, Korea... and especially possibly stemming from an interest in the philosophy of balance and symmetry as the energy industry itself requires. I Ching is also the foundation of systemic thinking, change - transformation - harmony: completely coincident with the philosophy that the IEA under Mr. Birol is pursuing, from fossil energy to renewable energy, from unipolarity to multipolarity.

On the table, prominently displayed is the World Energy Outlook, the strategic work he has edited for many years. There is no mistaking this: this is the desk of a technocrat and an energy philosopher.

Under Fatih Birol's leadership, the IEA has expanded its engagement with emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa, making it a global hub for clean energy transitions.

Fatih Birol's quality lies not in his exaggerated statements, but in such quiet details. A leader does not show off his vision, but rather lets others see it for themselves through what he chooses to keep close to him.

Under his leadership, the IEA has expanded its engagement with emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa, making it a global hub for clean energy transitions. Mr Birol also presides over the annual “World Energy Outlook” report, a key reference for governments and businesses around the world.

The man who redefined the IEA's mission

Under his leadership, the IEA has transformed from an organization that protects the OECD’s petro-energy interests into a global hub for clean, multilateral and inclusive energy transitions. He has expanded the IEA’s role beyond the G7 and OECD, engaging in strategic partnerships with developing and emerging economies such as China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and especially Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

One of Fatih Birol's most important contributions is the “Net Zero by 2050” report published in 2021.

One of his most important contributions is the 2021 report “Net Zero by 2050”, which for the first time provides a detailed and feasible roadmap for the global energy system to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century. This report has become a strategic reference for many countries, financial institutions, and large enterprises around the world in energy planning, investment policy development, and industry restructuring.

In 2022 and 2023, for two consecutive years, he was voted by the prestigious Time magazine into the top 100 most influential people in the world.

Yet speaking about the event, he said softly: " I am humbled. This is an honor that I share with my dedicated colleagues at the IEA, who have worked tirelessly to help the world better understand how the energy sector can lead the fight against climate change... Whatever influence I have, I want to use it to help countries around the world accelerate the clean energy transition in a way that is affordable, fair and safe to give the world a fighting chance to limit global warming to 1.5 °C - perhaps the greatest challenge facing humanity."

In an article about the Time 100 list and Dr. Birol, US Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry wrote: “ In a world where truth is under attack, Fatih Birol combines the best of high-tech data, optimistic know-how and old-fashioned rhetorical ingenuity. A trusted adviser to world leaders, he is an objective authority on what it takes to reduce carbon emissions and save our planet.”

“ Birol has transformed the International Energy Agency from a body primarily overseeing oil markets into a leading adviser to the world’s major economies across the entire energy spectrum,” added Secretary Kerry. “Based on more than 10 years of analysis, this year his IEA published the first comprehensive roadmap to achieve net-zero global emissions by 2050 and reduce the risk of catastrophic climate impacts.”

Global Messenger of Clean Energy

Fatih Birol is not just a policymaker. He is the one who connects the centers of power, from Washington to Brussels, from Beijing to New Delhi... to form a global consensus on the energy transition. He is invited to speak at the World Economic Forum (Davos), G20, COP26, COP28, and regularly meets with high-level leaders of countries.

He is also Chairman of the World Economic Forum's Energy Advisory Council, an Honorary Fellow of the UK Academy of Engineering, and has served as a senior advisor to United Nations programmes on sustainable development and climate change.

He was also awarded the Legion of Honor (France), the Order of Merit (Germany) and many other prestigious awards from Japan, Italy, Finland...

Influence in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, Fatih Birol was one of the pioneers in promoting energy cooperation between the IEA and ASEAN. Under his tenure, the IEA provided technical support, data sharing and policy advice to many countries in the region, especially Vietnam.

During the meeting and working session with Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, he assessed Vietnam as a “bright spot in renewable energy” and a country with potential to develop offshore wind power, solar power and even new generation nuclear power. The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the IEA and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam dated June 4, 2025 is a testament to that special relationship.

What makes Fatih Birol so influential is not just his policymaking ability or strategic analytical intelligence, but also his ability to inspire and motivate practical action. He regularly meets with young people, organizes capacity building workshops, and advocates for equitable access to energy, where “no one is left behind.”

For his contributions, in 2021, he was named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, alongside heads of state and global innovators. TIME called him “the architect of a new energy future,” a man “both strategic in mind and global in heart.”

Big friend

During the meeting with Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, Mr. Birol expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s progress in the field of renewable energy, especially solar power. He also shared his desire to support Vietnam in developing offshore wind power and nuclear power, to meet the growing energy demand and fulfill its commitments to net zero emissions.

"Vietnam is a bright spot in energy in Southeast Asia," said Mr. Birol, adding, "We are ready to support Vietnam in accessing new technology, training human resources and mobilizing finance for clean energy projects."

During the working session with Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, Mr. Birol expressed his admiration for Vietnam's progress in the field of renewable energy, especially solar power.

Not only is he the leader of the IEA, Mr. Birol is also the Chairman of the Energy Advisory Council of the World Economic Forum (Davos) and a member of many international organizations on energy and climate. He happily recounted his meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the G7 summit and believed in Vietnam's vision and aspiration for clean energy! Mr. Birol always emphasized the role of nuclear energy in ensuring energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He believes that to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, the world needs to triple its current nuclear power capacity. He hopes that Vietnam will soon restart its nuclear power programs and he will always accompany those programs.

Connecting Paris - Hanoi: A new journey begins

After the meeting, Mr. Birol saw Minister Nguyen Hong Dien off to the street, waited for the Minister to get in the car before returning. He expressed his respect and special affection for his Vietnamese partner. He promised to come to Vietnam soon to implement the contents of the cooperation memorandum, from policy consulting, human resource training to technical support for clean energy projects.

“We are not just partners, but also companions on the journey towards a sustainable energy future,” said Mr. Birol.

Fatih Birol embodies a global energy transition from old to new, from pollution to sustainability, from monopoly to collaboration. He works not only in his Paris offices, but also at conferences, factories, wind farms, and university lecture halls around the world.

For him, energy is more than electricity and fuel - it is faith, justice, peace and the future of humanity.

On the afternoon of June 4 local time, in Paris (France), Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Head of the Vietnamese delegation working in France, had a working session with Mr. Fatih Birol - Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote comprehensive cooperation in the energy sector with the IEA.

At the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien highly appreciated the IEA's support activities in Vietnam over the past time. IEA is the world's leading energy agency with the role of supporting partner countries to achieve energy security goals and promote clean and sustainable energy transition. Within the framework of ASEAN energy cooperation, IEA has participated as an important partner for many years with support under the ASEAN-IEA Energy Cooperation Action Plan.

Notes by Nguyen Minh from Paris, France

Source: https://congthuong.vn/mot-chieu-voi-fatih-birol-nguoi-gac-den-top-100-anh-huong-nhat-the-gioi-390907.html