Claude Mandil, meeting with senior Japanese officials including Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, stressed the need to stabilize oil prices and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas.

In a speech after his meetings, Mandil said dependence on oil was dangerous as supply could easily be disrupted in violence-hit areas. He urged governments to consider an expansion of nuclear energy plants.

"We think urgent and decisive government actions are needed," he said.

IEA analyst Fatih Briol said unless governments of the world changed their energy policies, rising oil demand in developing nations, particularly those in Asia, would result in more emission of carbon dioxide.

Briol urged governments to tighten monitoring of energy efficiency standards for cars, power generation and supply systems, household electronics and industrial equipment.

"We have to put efficiency policies at first," Briol said.