Transition Indicators

The fact sheet introduces 'transition indicators' as a tool to improve the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions and national adaptation plans. Based on case studies from seven countries, the document asserts that focusing on a few tangible metrics per sector—rather than abstract CO2 targets—facilitates public dialogue, guides policy implementation, and attracts private investment. It provides specific examples of indicators for water security in India, industrial decarbonization in Germany, transport in South Korea, buildings in China, renewable energy in the Netherlands, and sustainable agriculture in Kenya and Indonesia.

• Transition indicators address three primary gaps in climate action: the ambition gap (misalignment of short-term targets with long-term goals), the implementation gap (insufficient guidance for policy and finance), and the engagement gap (failure to link to immediate public priorities).
• Case studies across seven countries demonstrate that the main dynamics of a sectoral transition can be captured using only two or three transition indicators, which are more accessible for political decision-making and public communication than existing metrics.
• The document identifies specific transition indicators for various sectors and countries: India (24x7 drinking water access and water savings), Germany (share of climate-neutral material production and circular material consumption), South Korea (carbon neutral vehicle share and inclusive transport modal share), China (building energy consumption per capita, share of fossil fuel/biomass use, and electricity flexibility), the Netherlands (expected share of renewable energy), and Kenya (farming population implementing climate-friendly agriculture, natural vegetation coverage, and food-secured farming communities).
• Transition indicators can enhance social dialogue and policy ambition by shifting the focus from "abstract emission numbers" to tangible socio-economic benefits, thereby reducing opposition from citizens and firms and helping to close the ambition gap to limit global temperature increase to 1.5C.

APA

Climate Strategies (2024). Transition Indicators. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RTI-2.0.pdf

Chicago

Climate Strategies. Transition Indicators. 2024. https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RTI-2.0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Strategies |title=Transition Indicators |date=2024 |url=https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RTI-2.0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatestrategies2024transition, author = {{Climate Strategies}}, title = {{Transition Indicators}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, year = {2024}, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RTI-2.0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }