Fostering Effective Energy Transition

The Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2020 report evaluates the progress of 115 countries using the Energy Transition Index (ETI). While 94 countries improved their scores between 2015 and 2020, the report notes a first year-on-year decline in the global average score in 2020, largely due to COVID-19 disruptions. The analysis highlights a widening gap between fuel importing and exporting countries, with importers generally outperforming exporters in environmental sustainability and political commitment. The report emphasizes the need for 'breakthrough and radical measures' in advanced economies as incremental gains plateau, and calls for a 'decade of delivery' focused on resilience, carbon pricing, and the scaling of renewable technologies to meet Paris Agreement goals.

• The global average Energy Transition Index (ETI) score for 2020 is 55.1 out of 100, marking the first year-on-year decline since 2015, with 55% of monitored countries experiencing declines.
• Between 2015 and 2020, 94 of the 115 monitored countries improved their composite ETI scores, representing over 70% of the global population and 70% of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion.
• Fuel importing countries generally outperform fuel exporting countries in the energy transition, particularly in environmental sustainability, political commitment, and access to capital for new infrastructure.
• Sweden, Switzerland, and Finland are the top three ranked countries in the ETI 2020. The report notes that incremental gains for top-performing countries are plateauing, suggesting a need for radical innovation.
• Global energy-related CO2 emissions plateaued in 2019, aided by a record 3% decline in the share of electricity produced by coal, primarily due to plant shutdowns in the EU and United States.
• Methane emissions from natural gas production increased, with North American shale gas operations accounting for more than half of global methane emissions in 2019.
• Energy affordability varies by region: advanced economies and Emerging and Developing Europe face challenges due to high per capita consumption, while Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia face high retail tariffs and limited access.
• Transition readiness has improved globally, driven largely by increased political commitment and better access to capital, though structural enablers like human capital and institutional frameworks move more slowly.
• The COVID-19 pandemic created a 'perfect storm' for energy markets through demand destruction and oil price volatility, risking the loss of momentum for the energy transition.
• The report argues that economic stimulus packages following COVID-19 should prioritize green infrastructure, such as carbon capture, clean hydrogen, and grid modernization, to avoid carbon lock-in.

APA

World Economic Forum (2020). Fostering Effective Energy Transition. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Fostering_Effective_Energy_Transition_2020_Edition.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Fostering Effective Energy Transition. 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Fostering_Effective_Energy_Transition_2020_Edition.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Fostering Effective Energy Transition |date=May 2020 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Fostering_Effective_Energy_Transition_2020_Edition.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2020fostering, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Fostering Effective Energy Transition}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Fostering_Effective_Energy_Transition_2020_Edition.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }