World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020
Energy transition and the global economy
The global economy has suffered a significant slowdown amid prolonged trade disputes and wide-ranging policy uncertainties. While a slight uptick in economic activity is forecast for 2020, the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020 warns that economic risks remain strongly tilted to the downside, aggravated by deepening political polarization and increasing scepticism over the benefits of multilateralism. These risks could inflict severe and long-lasting damage on development prospects. They also threaten to encourage a further rise in inward-looking policies, at a point when global cooperation is paramount.
"To live in shared prosperity within the capacity of our planet to support us, we must move away from carbon and resource-intensive industries, materials and value chains. We must instead prioritize sustainable consumption and production—a way of life that enables economic growth, while ensuring planetary protection."- António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
Compounding the economic slowdown, rising global temperatures and the increasing frequency and intensity of weather-related shocks press home the urgent need for a dramatic shift in the global energy mix. The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020 explores the global economic implications of this energy transition. The transition to a cleaner energy mix will bring not only environmental and health benefits, but economic opportunities for many. However, without appropriate policy strategies, the costs and benefits will be unevenly distributed within and between countries.
Full Report:
- English (15 mb)
Executive Summary:
Chapters & Info:
- Table of Contents (128 kb)
- Chapter I: Global economic outlook: Prospects for the world economy in 2020 and 2021 (4 mb)
- Chapter II: Macroeconomic prospects and the 2030 Agenda: economics of energy transition (2 mb)
- Chapter III: Regional developments and outlook
- Developed economies (1 mb)
- Economies in transition (2 mb)
- Africa (1 mb)
- East Asia (1 mb)
- South Asia (1 mb)
- Western Asia (1 mb)
- Latin America and the Caribbean (1 mb)
- Annex (366 kb)
- Bibliography (204 kb)
Press Release:
- (113 kb) العربية
- 中文 (326 kb),
- English (164 kb),
- Français (162 kb),
- Русский (191 kb),
- Español (167 kb)
Regional Press Releases:
- Europe
- Western Asia
- Southern Asia
- English (162 kb)
- Africa
- Commonwealth of Independent States
- East & South Asia
- Latin America & Caribbean
Additional Info:
- Fact Sheet (436 kb)
- Key Findings (138 kb)
- Video (Yahoo! Finance)
- Infographics:
- What's in store for the global economy in 2020? (1 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Falling short of development goals (5 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Are we living better lives? (4 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Is workplace equality achievable? (4 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Climate crisis response is slow and inadequate (3 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Global growth plummets to ten-year low (4 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Per capita income by country (2 mb)
Optimised for: Instagram - Economic prospects for Western Asia are clouded by volatile oil price, deterioration in real estate and geopolitical tensions (968 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook - South Asian economies remain highly exposed to extreme weather events and commodity price fluctuations (1,010 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook - A prolonged economic slump is undermining progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Latin America and the Caribbean (906 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Commodity-dependent economies in transition face risk of stranded assets (1 mb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Growth outlook in East Asia is dampened by persistent trade tensions and financial volatility (901 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Growth momentum has slowed across developed economies (928 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Growth rates in Africa are insufficient for meaningful development progress (831 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook - Afrika: Kasi ya ukuaji wa uchumi haitoshi kuleta maendeleo yanayofaa (788 kb)
Optimised for: Facebook
- What's in store for the global economy in 2020? (1 mb)
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