The global energy sector has reached a critical turning point
The global energy sector has reached a critical turning point
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A rapid shift toward low-carbon systems is underway. Our annual scoreboard helps you keep track of how countries are doing.
- March 31, 2026
Included the Sunstone Energy Transition Score Leaderboard
- Journalist
- Amund Trellevik
- Data Scientist
- Zongchang Yang
As the International Energy Agency warns that the window to limit warming to 1.5°C is closing, the transition is no longer just an environmental necessity but an economic evolution.
The main driver is cost. Over the last ten years, the price of solar power has dropped by 86 per cent. Onshore wind has fallen by 69 per cent, offshore wind energy by 59 per cent. This massive change has made renewable energy a highly competitive investment, reshaping markets worldwide.
To help people understand this complex transition, the Sunstone Institute created the Sunstone Energy Transition Score (SETS). It is a tool designed for everyone, from government leaders, media workers and investors to the public.
The SETS does two main things:
- We measure how well a country’s energy system is working right now.
- And we predict how ready a country is to go green in the future.
The SETS acts like a ‘strategic compass’. It helps find new opportunities and manage the risks involved in moving toward a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
So, let's dive into the overall picture in short: How is the green transition progressing?
The world is moving toward low carbon energy, but the pace is too slow and uneven. Here is the status of the global energy transition:
