National Grades for the UN Climate Summit: Who Contributes the Most to Global Energy Innovation?

The only way to meet global demand for energy while averting the worst consequences of climate change in the coming decades is by accelerating clean-energy innovation. This responsibility falls first and foremost to national governments, which are the most important contributors to the global energy innovation system, because global institutions lack the resources to drive progress at the required pace and the private sector lacks the incentive. So as world leaders prepare to gather for COP26 in Glasgow to identify pathways to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, pressure is mounting for them to expand their nations’ contributions to innovation that will make clean energy more affordable, reliable, and versatile.

ITIF released the latest edition of its Global Energy Innovation Index, a multi-faceted assessment of national contributions to the global energy innovation system, and hosted a discussion about how to push the pace with leading energy innovation policy experts.