Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF)
5th Annual Meeting
October 10-11, 2018
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, Japan
Nobuo Tanaka
Position/Department/Division/Institution/Organization
Chairman, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation;
Former Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA)
Country
Japan
Career history
Nobuo Tanaka is Chairman of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. As Executive Director of the
International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2007 to 2011, he initiated a collective release of oil
stocks in June 2011. He also played a crucial and personal role in the strengthening of ties with
major non-Member energy players, including China and India.
He began his career in 1973 in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and has
served in a number of high-ranking positions, including Director-General of the Multilateral
Trade System Department. He was deeply engaged in bilateral trade issues with the US as
Minister for Industry, Trade and Energy at the Embassy of Japan, Washington DC. He has also
served twice as Director for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI) of the Paris-based
international organization, OECD.
Areas of expertise
Energy Security, Trade Negotiation,
International Organization
