Reports
Published: 19 June 2024

Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2024

The energy transition is progressing but has lost momentum in the face of increasing global uncertainty, according to the World Economic Forum's Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2024 report. The Energy Transition Index (ETI), which benchmarks 120 countries on their current energy system performance and on the readiness of their enabling environment, finds that while there has been notable progress in energy efficiency and a marked increase in the adoption of clean energy sources, energy transition momentum has been held back by setbacks in energy equity, driven by rising energy prices in recent years. Energy security also continues to be tested by geopolitical risks.

New this year to the ETI are “tailored pathways” for analysing country-specific characteristics, including income level and local energy resources, to provide region-specific recommendations.

Enabled by increasing volumes of clean energy investments, improved regulatory frameworks and urgency to address the climate crisis, some long-term trends of global energy transition are positive. This year saw the highest global average scores in the history of the ETI, with modest improvements in system performance of about 0.2% and strong progress in transition readiness, with a growth of 2%.

Key highlights

1. Global average ETI scores increased by 6% since 2015 but showed slower growth in the past three years.

2. Only 28% of countries showed strong improvement in the dimension with the lowest score, signalling progress towards a more balanced system.

3. The top 10 countries account for only 1% of energy-related CO2 emissions, 3% of total energy supply, 3% of energy demand and 2% of the global population.

4. Only 17% of countries in 2024 balanced the progress in dimensions of the energy triangle.

5. Overall, 53 countries have made steady progress in the past decade.

Of the 120 countries benchmarked, 107 have shown progress over the last decade, with only 30 countries seeing their scores increase by more than 10%.

  • Sweden leads the global rankings, followed by Denmark and Finland.
  • This year, France has entered the top five performers on the ETI due to its effective energy efficiency policies.
  • Major growing centers of demand like Brazil, China and India have made strong improvements on the ETI in recent years.

Achieving long-term energy transition goals requires sustained momentum, even in the face of near-term macroeconomic and geopolitical disruptions. In 2024, a notable 28% of nations, including Kuwait, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mozambique and Tanzania, are actively transitioning towards a more balanced energy system. This evolution is characterized by significant advancements in the lowest-scoring sub-index among equity, security and sustainability.

However, only 20 countries improved scores across all three dimensions in the past year. The lack of consistent and balanced progress highlights the challenge many countries face while navigating the energy transition. The growing complexity of macroeconomic landscapes and escalating geopolitical tensions have introduced additional challenges, underscoring the need for tailored pathways towards the energy transition to address these evolving dynamics effectively.

In a landscape marked by complexities and uncertainties, the path forward remains clear: now is the time for all stakeholders across the value chain, spanning supply, demand and distribution, and including both public and private sectors, to take decisive action. This means ramping up efforts to transform their energy systems by implementing innovative solutions, mobilizing investment and driving bold policy reforms. By harnessing the momentum of the energy transition, stakeholders can chart the course towards an equitable, secure and sustainable energy future.

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