US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has given the International Energy Agency one year to move away from its net zero climate agenda or risk losing Washington's membership, reports Reuters.

Mr Wright said the US would use all available pressure to push the IEA to abandon its net zero by 2050 target, describing it as a "destructive illusion." He warned that a US withdrawal could allow China to gain more influence over the agency.

The secretary claimed many countries privately support the US stance, favouring increased fossil fuel production to boost competitiveness, re-industrialisation and military strength. He noted that European nations are unlikely to publicly backtrack due to political commitments to green policies.

The Paris Accords of 2015 committed nearly 200 nations to reducing emissions to reach net zero by 2050. Mr Wright's comments mark a sharp departure from that pledge, as the US pushes for greater oil and gas output.

Independent EU advisers recently warned the bloc is unprepared for worsening climate change and must urgently invest in protection measures. Current national pledges would still result in 2.3-2.5 degrees Celsius of warming this century, according to the UN.