| period | avg_annual_improvement_pct | interpretation | why_it_matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2019 (avg) | 2.0 | Historic baseline for the pre-pandemic decade | Doubling this pace is the SDG ambition |
| 2019–2023 (avg) | 1.2 | Post-2019 slowdown; progress masked by shocks and rebounds | Harder to align growth with climate targets |
| 2024 | 1.0 | Very weak year compared with the SDG trajectory | More investment needed to avoid wasted energy |
| 2025 (prelim) | 1.8 | Improvement vs 2024, but still below doubling | Shows policy can lift progress if scaled |
Data are the same rounded mid-points/ranges used in the article’s charts (indicative).