The Climate Transparency Report (previously known as "Brown to Green Report”) is the world’s most comprehensive annual review of G20 countries’ climate action and their transition to a net zero emissions economy. This year’s report consists of two parts: the annual policy assessment based on data of the previous year(s) is complemented by an analysis of the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and recovery efforts on countries’ climate ambition.

Climate Transparency Report 2020: Key findings at a glance

COVID-19 impact on emissions: G20 CO2 emissions are projected to decrease by 7.5% in 2020

G20 recovery spending: too much support for fossil fuels

18 G20 countries are providing some support to green industries (except Saudi Arabia and Russia)
10 G20 countries are providing support to the domestic coal sector
10 countries are providing support to the gas sector
9 countries are providing support to the oil sector
14 countries bailed out their national airline companies without conditions attached (only France has included conditions to its bailout)
7 countries are providing support to the automobile industry without conditions attached (only Germany and France are providing support with environmental conditions attached)

Vulnerability: G20 countries are experiencing the impacts of climate change

Between 1999 & 2018, G20 countries lost about 220,000 lives & USD 2.6tn to extreme weather events
More severe impacts (compared to other countries) are projected at 1.5°C for Australia, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa
Adaptation (2019): 19 G20 countries have adaptation plans (except Saudi Arabia)

Mitigation (2019): the G20 are not on track for a 1.5°c world

CO2 energy-related emissions down 0.1% in 2019
carbon-intensity of primary energy supply -0.8%
coal consumption -2%
CO2 emissions from the power sector -2.4%
27% of power generated from renewables, compared to 25% in 2018
CO2 emissions from the building sector +0.9% in 2019
energy-related CO2 emissions from the agriculture sector -0.5%
Fossil fuels still 81.5% of primary energy
Consumption grows in Gas +3% and Oil +1%
CO2 emissions from the transport sector +1.5%
CO2 emissions from the industry sector +1.2%

Policy leaders and laggards

Renewable energy: No country has 1.5°C aligned renewable energy targets. 16 G20 members have policies to increase renewable generation (except Australia, Mexico, USA and Canada)
Coal: Only Canada, France, Italy, and the UK have 1.5°C compatible coal phase-out dates, 10 countries have policies in place to reduce coal consumption.
Transport: The UK, Canada, Japan and France have targets to phase out fossil fuel cars, Australia and Russia have no policies in place to reduce emissions from passenger vehicles. No countries have ambitious policies for decarbonising heavy-duty vehicles.
Buildings: France, Italy and Germany have 1.5°C compatible policies in place for new zero-energy buildings. Russia and Argentina do not have any policies in this area. No country has 1.5 compatible policies for retrofitting buildings.
Energy efficiency: Italy and Japan are frontrunners, Germany and India follow with high ambition policies.
Deforestation: China, EU and Mexico have the most ambitious policies but none of them are 1.5°C compatible.

Finance (2019): G20 members are making progress on mitigating climate-related financial risks

Financial policies: 17 G20 countries have initiated discussions or are already implementing some form of green finance principles (except India, Saudi Arabia and South Korea)
Fossil fuel subsidies: G20 countries directed USD 130bn in subsidies to coal, oil, and gas in 2019 (excluding Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UK)
Carbon pricing: 18 G20 countries implementing explicit carbon-pricing schemes (except India and Australia) but carbon prices remain lower than required to align with Paris goals
Public finance: 13 G20 countries partially or fully restrict coal finance (except China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa); 17 G20 members have no restrictions for oil & gas finance

Read the 2019 report

Decarbonisation targets and 1.5℃ pathways

Publications

Climate Action Tracker: 2024 warming projection update

Despite an escalating climate crisis marked by unprecedented wildfires, storms, floods, and droughts, the Climate Action Tracker annual global temperature update shows global warming projections for 2100 are flatlining, with no improvement since 2021. The aggregate effect of current policies set the world on a path toward 2.7°C of warming.

Decarbonising light-duty vehicle road transport

The Climate Action Tracker provides updated 1.5ºC compatible benchmarks for the transport sector for the world as a whole and for seven individual countries; the US, EU, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia.

Emissions Gap Report 2024: No more hot air … please!

The 2024 edition of UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report shows how much higher nations must aim. To get on a least-cost pathway for 1.5°C, emissions must fall 42 per cent by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. G20 nations, particularly the largest-emitting members, would need to do the heavy lifting.

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Northern forests are critical in the race to net zero CO₂ by mid-century. Protecting and restoring these forests, alongside steep and rapid reductions in fossil fuel emissions, is essential both to mitigating emissions and to supporting forest ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Methodology underpinning the State of Climate Action series: 2024 update

This technical note describes the State of Climate Action series’ methodology for identifying sectors that must transform, translating these transformations into global mitigation targets primarily for 2030, 2035 and 2050 and selecting indicators with datasets to monitor annual change. It also outlines the report’s approach for assessing progress made toward near-term targets and comparing trends over time.

LNG shipbuilding industry heading to huge oversupply

The LNG shipbuilding industry appears to be doubling down on building new carriers, ignoring the global shift to a low carbon economy and putting itself into an even worse oversupply situation than a year ago, we find in our updated report.

Setting 1.5°C compatible wind and solar targets

Based on global energy system modelling sense-checked against key national studies, this report presents new analysis on what a 1.5°C-aligned rollout of wind and solar could look like for key countries. It aims to inform target setting for 2030, 2035 and beyond in third generation NDCs.

Technical guide for the development of long-term low emission development strategies in Africa

This technical guide proposes concrete steps and actions to help African countries develop strong, high-performing Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategies that chart a low-emission development path, build resilience, encourage innovation, and create new opportunities for green growth.

Evaluating the near and long-term role of carbon dioxide removal in meeting global climate objectives

For 1.5°C pathways with limited overshoot, most of the mitigation between now and 2030 should come from emissions reductions (70%), with reductions from cutting non-CO2 emissions (20%) and land-based carbon dioxide removals such as afforestation and preventing deforestation (10%) making up the remainder.

What good looks like: G7 climate policy 2024 update

This brief outlines seven key policy recommendations for this June’s G7 summit that, if adopted, would demonstrate the ambition and leadership needed to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit in sight.

Tripling renewables by 2030: interpreting the global goal at the regional level

At COP28, governments agreed to triple global renewable capacity by 2030. This report breaks down what a 1.5ºC-aligned renewables rollout would look like at the regional level and calculate the associated investment needs.

Submission to the Australian Treasury consultation on the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax

As the gas industry in Australia has grown exponentially, the profit taxes it pays to the government have proportionally plummeted, presenting an opportunity to change this regime. Here, we respond to the Australian Government Treasury consultation on the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) – anti-avoidance provisions and clarifying treatment of ‘exploration’ and Mining, Quarrying or Prospecting Rights.

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Decarbonisation targets and 1.5℃ pathways

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The Climate Transparency Report 2020