World Energy Issues Monitor

World Energy Issues Monitor

For the past 15 years, the World Energy Council has diligently monitored global energy leaders' perspectives on issues impacting energy transitions through our annual World Energy Issues Monitor.  

A vital source of critical information guiding action priorities for faster, fairer and more far-reaching global energy transitions, the Issues Monitor assesses the impact and uncertainty of pre-identified energy transition issues by soliciting feedback from policymakers, CEOs and leading industry experts.  

It offers insights into a) Action Priorities, representing areas where countries are actively advancing their energy transition efforts; and b) Critical Uncertainties, highlighting issues that are of concern to energy leaders and require leadership attention.   

The Issues Monitor Survey monitors 39 core energy transition issues across 6 categories: 

• Geopolitical issues  
• Economic issues  
• Societal issues  
• Regulatory regimes  
• (Technology) Gamechangers  
• Environment and climate change 

The World Energy Issues Monitor’s insights provide snapshots of emerging trends and transformations across the entire energy ecosystem. These perspectives are presented in combination with regional-level commentaries and country-level Issues Maps to better inform decision-making discussions. As we stretch and sustain more collaboration across geographies, genders, and generations, we encourage you to consider the following when analysing the impact of energy transitions:

• What are the implications of regional diversity in energy?
• What is working, and how can it work in other places?
• As we grapple with connected challenges – and social, environmental, geopolitical, and financial risks – what are the opportunities?

WORLD ENERGY ISSUES MONITOR 2025

WORLD ENERGY TRANSITIONS IN MOTION

Energy transitions around the globe are increasingly dynamic, emergent, and self-organising – much like the flocking of birds. Each bird reacts to its neighbours and surroundings, creating evolving formations that may look different from one moment to the next yet remain guided by the same basic rules. Energy transitions follow the same patterns, with a few unifying drivers – like climate concerns, technology advances, and social imperatives – shaping countless local variations, depending on political, economic, and cultural conditions.

The 2025 World Energy Issues Monitor serves as our lens into these patterns. It shows what factors drive energy transitions, how regions and groups respond differently, and where shared insights can help us nudge the global energy sector onto more human-centred, resilient, and inclusive pathways. Decarbonising our energy systems has yet to truly begin. And, at a time when the international landscape is growing more fragmented – with multiple poles of influence and competing agendas – understanding these regional differences is both urgent and essential to start the process of net-zero and beyond.

This edition of the World Energy Issues Monitor draws insights from over 3,000 respondents across 100+ countries.

We invite you to harness the power of this tool not just for reading and reflecting, but also as a catalyst for action and collaboration in our pursuit of making faster, fairer and more far-reaching energy transitions happen. 

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Key findings from this edition include: 

1. Critical Uncertainty: Commodity Prices remain in pole position – Fossil fuel dependence and market volatility, influenced by geopolitical tensions, shifting policies, and supply chain constraints.

2. Top Action Priority: Transmission Grids for a second year running – Grid expansion and modernisation are essential to enabling clean energy growth, yet challenges in permitting, investment, and collaboration slow progress.

3. Blind Spots: Social License & Circular Economy – Community engagement and resource circularity are often overlooked yet critical for long-term success. Public buy-in hinges on co-benefits – connecting wellbeing, sustainable development and energy transition agendas is crucial for progressing orderly, just and far-reaching energy transitions.

4. Bright Spots: Regional Leadership – Countries like Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Spain demonstrate that targeted policies, investments, and social inclusion can and do drive meaningful energy progress.

WORLD ENERGY ISSUES MONITOR 2025 GLOBAL MAP

World Energy Issues Monitor 2024

REDESIGNING ENERGY IN 5D 

In a world where the demands for secure, affordable and sustainable energy are ever-increasing, global and national energy systems are showing signs of deficiencies and strains everywhere. There is an urgent need for collaboration across the entire energy ecosystem to redesign energy systems that enable the improvement of billions of lives on a healthy planet. 

For this edition of the World Energy Issues Monitor, the Council surveyed nearly 1,800 energy leaders and global experts drawn from its global network spanning over 100 countries. The survey was conducted in early 2024, following the conclusion of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), which was held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in November 2023.  The 2024 World Energy Issues Monitor should be considered within this context.  

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View past editions of the World Energy Issues Monitor