Global energy transition progress has lost momentum, according to the latest Energy Transition Index by the World Economic Forum.
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Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the strongest gains of any region in the world’s energy transition efforts, offering a rare bright spot in an increasingly fragmented global energy landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions and slowing progress, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026.
The 2026 Energy Transition Index, which tracks 120 countries across 44 indicators, found that transition readiness fell this year, with four of five enabling dimensions declining simultaneously.
The report, released on Thursday, found that while global momentum towards cleaner, more sustainable energy systems has stalled, Sub-Saharan Africa has demonstrated significant progress, positioning the region as one of the most promising areas for future energy development and investment.
The ETI 2026 highlighted that energy systems worldwide are facing mounting pressure as countries attempt to balance sustainability, affordability and energy security amid a volatile geopolitical environment.
Despite a record $3.3 trillion in global energy investment during 2025, including $2.3trln directed towards clean energy, the report found that readiness for the transition declined for the first time in more than a decade.
At the regional level, however, Sub-Saharan Africa stood out by recording the strongest gains among all regions assessed in the index.
The improvement comes at a time when several other regions, including Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa, experienced setbacks linked to weakening policy commitment, declining infrastructure investment and lower transition readiness.
The WEF said the global energy transition is increasingly being shaped by structural challenges, including rising electricity demand, infrastructure bottlenecks and uneven access to finance.
Emerging economies, many of which are located in Africa, account for approximately 80% of global electricity demand growth, driven by economic development, urbanisation, digital infrastructure expansion and growing energy access needs.
However, the report warned that access to capital remains one of the biggest obstacles facing developing regions.
Although clean energy investment reached record levels globally, around 75% of all clean-energy capital continues to flow to a relatively small group of economies, creating a widening gap between where investment is concentrated and where future energy demand is expected to grow most rapidly.
WEF head of the Centre for Energy and Materials, Roberto Bocca, said the transition remains on course but is becoming increasingly uneven across regions.
“The energy transition is not reversing, but it is fracturing,” Bocca said.
“In a more volatile geoeconomic environment, security, affordability and resilience are central to sustaining progress. Closing the gap between ambition and delivery will require stronger foundations, including more diversified and resilient energy systems, faster infrastructure build-out, and capital that can reach markets where it is needed most.”
The report also pointed to the recent disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as evidence of how vulnerable energy systems remain to geopolitical shocks.
Import-dependent emerging economies are particularly exposed to supply disruptions, rising costs and infrastructure constraints, all of which can undermine long-term sustainability goals.
Despite these challenges, the strong performance of Sub-Saharan Africa suggests that the region is building momentum in creating more sustainable and resilient energy systems.
The gains come as African governments increasingly pursue renewable energy projects, expand electricity access and seek investment to address chronic energy shortages.
Looking ahead, the WEF identified three critical priorities for sustaining progress: integrating energy security and resilience into system design, accelerating grid expansion and infrastructure development, and improving investment conditions through stable policy frameworks and targeted capital flows.
These measures will be particularly important for emerging economies, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa, where future energy demand growth is expected to be strongest.
The report concluded that countries able to strengthen resilience, expand infrastructure and attract investment will be best positioned to transform current challenges into long-term economic and competitive advantages as the global energy transition enters a more complex and uncertain phase.
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