Making the Green Transition Work for People and the Economy 2025

Metric Period Source Investments in reskilling by private sector2025 World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey, 2025 SME finance availability, 1-7 (best) 2025 World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey, 2025 Financial system resilience 2025 World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey, 2025 Talent gaps for economic transformation: green and energy transition2025 World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey, 2025 Investments in reskilling by public sector 2025 World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey, 2025Metrics used in the development of the archetypes (continued) TABLE 1 Company perspectives on green transition This publication uses insights from the following Executive Opinion Survey questions, which reflect the perspectives of executives on the economic and societal implications of the green transition. Economic impacts of decarbonizationSurvey responses to the question “In your country, to what extent will the decarbonization and green transition actions impact the economy?” [1 = Economy will greatly suffer from decarbonization, 7 = Economy will greatly benefit from decarbonization] World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey, 2025 Competitiveness in the green transition Survey responses to the question “which of the following factors are most likely to hinder your ability to remain competitive during the green transition?”. Select three options from: a) limited access to green skills, b) higher cost of energy and key commodities, c) affordability and demand for green products among consumers, d) limited investment capacity and access to finance, e) limited access to critical raw materials, f) limited access to green technologies, g) slow return to investment, h) regulatory uncertainty and compliance burden, i) organizational culture and resistance to change, j) lack of reliable supply chains for sustainable products. World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey, 2025Equity risks from the green transition Survey responses to the question “in your country, how will decarbonization and green transition actions impact the economy?”. Respondents were asked to select two equity risks from a) worker displacement, b) unaffordability of goods and services, c) limited accessibility of goods and services, d) lack of financing to companies for green transition, e) lack of know-how and green technologies to companies and f) limited access to critical minerals for each of seven green transition dimensions: a) transitioning away from fossil fuels, b) scaling up low-carbon energy sources, c) greening of transport and mobility, d) greening of agriculture and food production, e) greening of heavy industry, f) greening of infrastructure and built environment and g) moving to a circular economy. Equity risks from the green transition cut by the green transition sector: Surveyed businesses are aware of the need to balance climate commitments with their own economic competitiveness. While executives are increasingly recognizing the business case for climate action, trade-offs might exist in the short term, as well as concerns over key barriers that prevent them from tapping into the economic opportunities associated with the green transition. Data from the World Economic Forum’s EOS helps map some of these concerns across industries. Energy and key commodity costs are the top barrier to competitiveness in all areas of the green transition except for the greening of transport and mobility and the scale-up of low-carbon energy sources, where regulatory uncertainty and compliance burdens take precedence. Making the Green Transition Work for People and the Economy 53