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Why ‘decoupling’ energy emissions from economic growth underpins the green transition
When people talk about tackling climate change, the images are often solar panels, wind turbines and electric cars. But the bigger question is whether economies can grow without releasing more carbon. This hinges on “decoupling” – the idea that economic growth can be separated from greenhouse gas emissions. At first glance, that sounds almost magical.…
Cost of net zero less than a single fossil fuel price shock, say UK government’s climate advisers
Achieving net zero is a more cost-effective path for the UK economy than continued reliance on fossil fuels and “will bring a net benefit to society”, according to the Climate Change Committee. In its new report, the committee – which is a statutory body and provides independent advice on emissions targets to the government – sets out a full cost-benefit analysis…
How’s the UK attempt to reach net zero going? There’s good news and bad news
Each year, the Climate Change Committee – the UK’s independent advisory body tasked with monitoring the country’s movement toward its legally binding climate goals – gives a report on the government’s progress over the last year. The Climate Change Committee’s new 2025 progress report is a mix of good and bad news about whether the…
EU ‘on course to achieve 2030 emissions target’
The European Union is “well on track” to meet its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the end of the decade. The European Commission’s assessment of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) show that the EU is on course to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by around 54% by 2030, compared to…
Global temperatures set to breach 1.5°C threshold over next five years, UN says
There is a 70% chance that the 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will exceed the 1.5°C global warming limit set under the Paris Agreement, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This likelihood has increased from 47% in the WMO’s 2024 report (covering 2024-2028) and from 32% in the 2023 report (covering 2023-2027). The WMO…
Current climate policy ‘doomed to fail’, says former UK PM Tony Blair
Net zero policies are increasingly viewed as “unaffordable, ineffective, or politically toxic” and efforts to phase out fossil fuels in the short term are “doomed to fail”, according to a report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. ‘The climate paradox: why we need to reset action on climate change’, published earlier this week,…
Paris Agreement goals out of reach unless top emitters step up, study warns
Collective efforts “still fall far short” of what is needed to limit global warming to 1.5C of pre-industrial levels, according to research by the World Resources Institute (WRI). The study focused on six of the world’s top emitters – China, the US, India, the European Union, Brazil, and Indonesia, which together emit more than half…
UK’s Net Zero Council relaunched with ‘broader range of voices’
The UK government has relaunched the Net Zero Council and expanded its membership to include civil society and local government. The council – whose remit is to advise government on the development of its net zero strategy, drive decarbonisation across the economy, and promote environmental sustainability in the business community – had been paused ahead…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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