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International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol has been selected once again for Time Magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people after first being included in 2021.
The annual list groups figures under six categories: artists, titans, innovators, icons, leaders, and pioneers. Birol is featured in the "leaders" section this year, as the only Turkish name on the 2026 list.
Time underlined Birol’s role in maintaining international alignment during a period of rising geopolitical strain.
"Birol has worked to keep countries aligned even as the world fragments, ensuring the IEA remains true to its founding mission of energy security and cooperation," the magazine noted in its assessment.
It further emphasized his forward-looking leadership, stating, "What sets Fatih apart is not only his commitment to facts and data, but his ability to anticipate new challenges while emphasizing the importance of abundant energy for development in the Global South and the need to address energy’s role in climate change."
The IEA framed the recognition as a reflection of its growing global impact, despite operating with relatively limited resources.
In a statement, Birol linked the honor to the agency’s broader mission. "I believe this honour reflects the huge value of the work we do to help countries around the world deliver on their goals of improving energy security, affordability and sustainability – including in challenging times such as the current moment," he pointed out.
He added that the recognition comes at a time when pressures on the global energy system are intensifying, noting that resilience and international coordination are becoming increasingly critical.
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The 2026 Time 100 list features global leaders, including China’s President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, as well as Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
In business and technology, the list highlights Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and AI executive Dario Amodei, alongside YouTube creator MrBeast.
The selection also includes genetics researcher Kiran Musunuru and microbiologist Mariangela Hungria, as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and labor rights activist Dolores Huerta.
Entertainment and culture remain a major component of the list, featuring actors such as Zoe Saldana and Kate Hudson, musician Luke Combs, and athletes including Lando Norris and Chloe Kim.
Xi leads this year’s list in repeat appearances with 14 inclusions, while several figures—including Fatih Birol—return for a second time.
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