Trade Barriers Can Slow Energy Transition: IEA Chief

IEA chief Fatih Birol told AFP fair trade is 'a good friend' of the energy transition (Credit: AFP)

Trade barriers can slow the world's energy transition but commerce also needs to be fair, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Wednesday, as world powers tussle over the technologies key to fighting climate change.

Clean energy is among the hot topics this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with China denouncing "barriers to green trade" and the EU voicing concerns about "trade imbalances".