Amid state-armed conflict, extreme weather events and geoeconomic confrontation – highlighted as top global risks in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 20th Edition – energy security and industrial competitiveness have become central national priorities. Countries are increasingly focused on securing and localizing clean energy supply chains, safeguarding critical resources and harnessing energy transition efforts as strategic advantages in the face of growing geopolitical and trade-related challenges. Concurrently, the escalating nexus of extreme weather, geopolitical strategy and transition goals is driving a rethinking of energy security frameworks – not just at the national level, but also within sub-national systems. This shifting landscape is transforming how nations approach resilience, reliability and regional cooperation for future energy systems. The transition remains multi-speed and uneven. Advanced economies, led by the Nordics, continued to top the ETI rankings, supported by diversified energy systems and institutional strength – but faced challenges with grid congestion, high prices and delivery bottlenecks. Notably, Nigeria made strong progress, rising from 109th place in 2016 to 61st in 2025 – driven by improvements in financial investments and infrastructure. Latvia and the United Arab Emirates posted some of the fastest score gains, demonstrating the power of clean energy adoption and targeted reforms. China reached fifth globally in transition readiness, largely due to its innovation ecosystem and recent political commitments, including an economy-wide emissions reduction plan. Japan combined world-leading energy access and strong innovation with renewed momentum through updated emissions targets. The US led in energy security, while India advanced in energy efficiency and investment capacity. While 77 of 118 countries improved their scores in 2025, the share of countries advancing across all three energy dimensions was only 28%, highlighting that the majority still progressed unevenly. These disparities were mirrored in global capital flows: over 80% of energy demand growth came from emerging and developing economies, but more than 90% of clean energy investment since 2021 was seen in advanced economies and China, revealing a misalignment between capital flows and future demand. As countries prepare for a more fragmented and volatile energy future, three system-level priorities are emerging: 1 Energy security redefined: Beyond affordability and supply diversity, security now includes grid resilience, critical minerals access, energy efficiency and digital infrastructure vulnerability. 2 Investment where it matters most: Addressing the capital imbalance is vital. Without stronger financial mechanisms in emerging markets supported by effective policy environments, national and global transition goals will fall out of reach. 3 Infrastructure as a limiting factor: Constraints have shifted from technology to delivery. Grid capacity, permitting processes and workforce readiness are now some of the most decisive levers of progress. Looking ahead, success will depend not just on accelerating ambition but aligning it with delivery capability. The 2025 ETI highlights that momentum is rebuilding – but, to ensure a sustainable transition, plans must translate into tangible projects, and commitments into capital. That will require stable regulation, credible pipelines and supportive ecosystems that can scale solutions where they are needed most. There is no single path forward. Countries have different starting points, capacities and constraints. While global coordination sets direction, effective execution will depend on adaptive, context- specific approaches. Aligning national transitions with shared global goals relies on grounded strategies that reflect local realities, because, in an increasingly volatile world, resilience and adaptability will determine success. Cooperation across national borders remains vital to energy security, equity and sustainability. Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2025 6