Site by Applied Works

Credits

Sources

01

01 Year in Focus

Fig. 1
Historical responsibility for the climate crisis UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2024
Fig. 2
Trading places Global Carbon Project
Fig. 3
Long way down International Energy Agency

02

02 Power

Fig. 4
Batteries improve California’s grid GridStatus
Fig. 5
The spread of solar Global Energy Monitor
Fig. 6
The solar boom Statistical Review of World Energy 2025 Figures are contained in a larger dataset accompanying the Statistical Review of World Energy. Data set available with this link
Fig. 7
Global electricity sources Ember
Fig. 8
Still burning coal Statistical Review of World Energy 2025 Figures are contained in a larger dataset accompanying the Statistical Review of World Energy. Data set available with this link
Fig. 9
The power grid Infrageomatics
Fig. 10
Clean vs fossil by region Ember
Fig. 11
The leaderboard Statistical Review of World Energy 2025 Figures are contained in a larger dataset accompanying the Statistical Review of World Energy. Data set available with this link
Fig. 12
Still too high Ember
Fig. 13
The boom continues International Energy Agency
Fig. 14
Solar boom in Africa Ember
Fig. 15
Avoided fossil fuel use Statistical Review of World Energy 2025
AI & Power
Fig. A
Power hungry International Energy Agency
Fig. B
The rise and fall of office work David J. Deming

03

03 Transportation

Fig. 16
Electric cars are still booming International Energy Agency
Fig. 17
Changing consumer preferences International Energy Agency
Fig. 18
Thirst for crude Energy Institute Figures are contained in a larger dataset accompanying the Statistical Review of World Energy. Data set available with this link
Fig. 19
Getting there International Energy Agency: Global EV Outlook 2025
Fig. 20
Sustainable aviation fuel T&E (2025). The e‑SAF market: Europe’s head start and the road ahead.
Fig. 21
Out of the exhaust pipe BloombergNEF: New Energy Outlook 2024
Fig. 22
Roads to everywhere GLOBIO, Global Roads Inventory Project (GRIP)
Fig. 23
Back to the future? OpenRailwayMap
Fig. 24
Global shipping Global Maritime Traffic

04

04 Buildings & Industry

Fig. 25
Buried in plastic PlasticsEurope
Fig. 26
Global fibre production Textile Exchange The Materials Market Report
Fig. 27
Building the future International Energy Agency
Fig. 28
Heat pump sales International Energy Agency
Fig. 29
Life in the greenhouse The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association

05

05 People, Land & Food

Fig. 30
Food prices are high Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Fig. 31
Going hungry Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Fig. 32
Chocolate at risk Federal Reserve Economic Data
Fig. 33
Coffee at risk, too Federal Reserve Economic Data
Fig. 34
The yield gap James S. Gerber, Project Drawdown
Fig. 35
Carnivorous Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Fig. 36
This is a hog farm, really Gilles Sabrié
Fig. 37
Killing the sea World Resources Institute
Fig. 38
Any trees left? Global Forest Watch

06

06 Financing the Transition

Fig. 39
Climate finance flows Adapted from Climate Policy Initiative
Fig. 40
Cost competitiveness Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy, June 2024
Fig. 41
Clean tops dirty International Energy Agency
Fig. 42
Renewable penetration is variable Ember
Fig. 43
Steady climb Climate Policy Initiative

07

07 Looking Ahead

Fig. 44
The Keeling Curve Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Fig. 45
Temperature rising Copernicus Climate Change Service

Acknowledgements

Generation Investment Management LLP would like to express its gratitude to the organisations on whose data sets we rely in preparing this report. These include the International Energy Agency, Ember, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Global Energy Monitor, Grid Status, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Carbon Project, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Climate Policy Initiative, Project Drawdown and others.

At the IEA, we especially thank Elizabeth Connelly and Chiara Delmastro for their assistance. At Ember, Euan Graham and Nicolas Fulghum gave us invaluable help. Connor Waldoch of Grid Status was most generous in helping us make sense of the California electricity readings. Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist who wears hats at several organisations and writes for the excellent publication Carbon Brief, has helped us interpret global temperature data for the past several years. James Gerber and Jonathan Foley of Project Drawdown were generous with their knowledge of the global food system. Miyuki Tsuji of the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association was most helpful.

We thank two outside firms for invaluable assistance in producing the main website for this report and the accompanying campaign for social media. At Applied Works, we especially thank Marco Bernardi, Mandy Doran, Leon French, Radhita Jain, Richard Males, Charlotte Mitchell, Valentina Santolini, Joe Sharpe and Jakub Staniszewski. At Formative Content, we thank Emma Charlton, Tom Crowfoot, Sara Grossman and Mike Sedgwick.

This report was written by Justin Gillis, Jessica Marker and Jonah Surkes of Generation, and edited by several colleagues in the company, including Clara Barby, David Blood, Colin le Duc, Al Gore, Lila Preston, Siddarth Shrikanth and Montgomery Taylor. Zindzi Wiles prepared the graphics. Michael Golden and Michael Purton were invaluable both in the preparation of the report and in designing the campaign to get it before the public. We thank our colleague Sagar Chitnis for the use of his excellent photograph of one of the white storks that have returned to the British landscape after 400 years, and we thank the Knepp Wildland Trust for allowing him to photograph there.

Finally, we wish to say how much we miss our colleague Anne Channevy, who worked on this report for several years, and to convey our condolences to her family once again.  

Important Information

This report has been prepared by Generation Investment Management LLP (“Generation”) for discussion purposes only and reflects the views of Generation as at September 2025. It is not to be reproduced or copied or made available to others without the consent of Generation. The information presented herein is based on Generation’s analysis of publicly available data, is intended to present a global perspective on different areas that Generation believes represent a sustainable economy and should not be construed as investment research, advice or the making of any recommendation. References to any companies must not be construed as a recommendation to buy securities of such companies. The jurisdictions and time periods presented herein may vary, as the data shown is what Generation used in its own assessment and believes to be the most complete view to support each identified area of sustainability and the associated trends. Historic estimates made throughout the report were extrapolated from cited research and based on previous trends and known current data. While the data is from sources Generation believes to be reliable, Generation makes no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the data. Generation shall not be responsible for amending, correcting, or updating any information or opinions contained herein, and we accept no liability for loss arising from the use of the information presented herein.