Global Green Economy Barometer 2020

The 2020 Global Green Economy Barometer evaluates the shift toward sustainable and equitable economic systems. While it notes accelerating energy transitions, a rise in green bonds, and the emergence of wellbeing budgets in countries like New Zealand, it argues that the 'brown economy' still dominates. The report highlights that fossil fuel subsidies reached US$ 5.2 trillion in 2017 and that global energy intensity is declining at only 0.4% per year, far below the 4-10% needed for mid-century decarbonization. It calls for systemic reforms to move beyond GDP, value natural capital, and ensure a just transition for marginalized populations.

• The global energy transition is accelerating in key regions: the UK has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and China is on track to provide over 40% of the global clean energy mix by 2022.
• Despite the growth of green finance, the 'brown economy' remains dominant, with governments spending US$ 5.2 trillion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2017, nearly equaling the annual investment needed for the global SDGs (US$ 5-7 trillion).
• Current global energy efficiency is insufficient for climate goals; energy intensity is declining at approximately 0.4% per year, whereas a decline of 4% to 10% annually is required to meet mid-century decarbonization targets.
• A small number of nations are transitioning away from GDP as the primary measure of progress toward wellbeing budgets, specifically New Zealand, Iceland, and Scotland.
• The green bond market has grown to US$ 521 billion since 2007, but it still represents less than 1% of the total US$ 53 trillion global bond market.
• Investment in 'extreme' fossil fuels continues to rise; 36 of the world's largest banks provided $115 billion to these sectors in 2017, with tar sands financing increasing by 111% from 2016 to 2017.
• The renewable energy sector is now employing more people than the fossil fuel sector, with 10.3 million jobs globally; in the US, solar employment exceeds that of coal, gas, and oil combined.
• Global biodiversity funding is critically low, with most countries spending less than 0.94% of their GDP on protecting biodiversity, despite up to 50% of their economies depending on it.
• The global economy is largely linear; only 9% of the 92.8 billion tonnes of minerals, fossil fuels, metals, and biomass entering the economy are reused annually.
• Economic inequality is worsening, with the richest 10% responsible for approximately 50% of total global emissions, while the poorest half contribute only around 10%.

APA

Green Economy Coalition (2020). Global Green Economy Barometer 2020. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/1037-GEC-Barometer-Phase2-A4-V8j-WEB.pdf

Chicago

Green Economy Coalition. Global Green Economy Barometer 2020. 2020. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/1037-GEC-Barometer-Phase2-A4-V8j-WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Economy Coalition |title=Global Green Economy Barometer 2020 |date=2020 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/1037-GEC-Barometer-Phase2-A4-V8j-WEB.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greeneconomycoalition2020global, author = {{Green Economy Coalition}}, title = {{Global Green Economy Barometer 2020}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/assets/reports/GEC-Reports/1037-GEC-Barometer-Phase2-A4-V8j-WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }