Home A study of 29 European countries’ progress towards sustainability has revealed that Spain is plummeting down the ranks while Denmark leads the way. Oliver Wyman’s Green Transition Index analyses the level of progress in the sustainability of countries in Europe, considering seven main categories: economy, nature, manufacturing, energy, buildings, transport and waste. According to the new edition of the index, Spain falls five positions in the ranking compared to 2022 due to the improvement in the performance of other European countries. It means Spain is below the European average for the first time and the second country that falls the most after France. Denmark leads the ranking, consolidating itself as the most advanced country in the green transition thanks to its strong performance in the use of renewable energies and decarbonisation technologies, the report said. In particular, it stands out for its pioneering initiatives in green hydrogen and carbon storage projects. The Scandinavian countries continue to show strong leadership, followed by Western Europe, the Baltic States, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe, the analysis found. Despite having made improvements in most indicators compared to the 2022 index, Spain falls five positions (to number 19) in relative performance compared to the rest of European countries. In the category of buildings, Spain has fallen five positions due to the low use of renewable energies for home heating, which is below the European average and far behind the leading countries, where more than 50% of heating comes from renewable sources. In Spain, gas boilers continue to be the main technology used. Regarding the transition in the energy sector, Spain is in 11th place, falling from the seventh position it occupied in the previous edition. However, Spain continues to make progress in the adoption of renewable energies, the report said. “Differences in progress towards sustainability not only reflect a country’s level of resources, but also the effectiveness of its policies and its capacity for innovation,” said Oliver Wyman Spain and Portugal associate Sofia Marques Cruz. “Denmark, which leads the ranking, is a clear example of how a strategic approach and the promotion of clean technologies can accelerate the transition.”

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A study of 29 European countries’ progress towards sustainability has revealed that Spain is plummeting down the ranks while Denmark leads the way. Oliver Wyman’s Green Transition Index analyses the level of progress in the sustainability of countries in Europe, considering seven main categories: economy, nature, manufacturing, energy, buildings, transport and waste. According to the new edition of the index, Spain falls five positions in the ranking compared to 2022 due to the improvement in the performance of other European countries. It means Spain is below the European average for the first time and the second country that falls the most after France. Denmark leads the ranking, consolidating itself as the most advanced country in the green transition thanks to its strong performance in the use of renewable energies and decarbonisation technologies, the report said. In particular, it stands out for its pioneering initiatives in green hydrogen and carbon storage projects. The Scandinavian countries continue to show strong leadership, followed by Western Europe, the Baltic States, Eastern Europe and Southern Europe, the analysis found. Despite having made improvements in most indicators compared to the 2022 index, Spain falls five positions (to number 19) in relative performance compared to the rest of European countries. In the category of buildings, Spain has fallen five positions due to the low use of renewable energies for home heating, which is below the European average and far behind the leading countries, where more than 50% of heating comes from renewable sources. In Spain, gas boilers continue to be the main technology used. Regarding the transition in the energy sector, Spain is in 11th place, falling from the seventh position it occupied in the previous edition. However, Spain continues to make progress in the adoption of renewable energies, the report said. “Differences in progress towards sustainability not only reflect a country’s level of resources, but also the effectiveness of its policies and its capacity for innovation,” said Oliver Wyman Spain and Portugal associate Sofia Marques Cruz. “Denmark, which leads the ranking, is a clear example of how a strategic approach and the promotion of clean technologies can accelerate the transition.”

byDaniel Baker

January 31, 2025

Credit:Enel Green Power

A recent study analyzing the sustainability progress of 29 European countries reveals a shift in rankings, with Spain dropping significantly while Denmark maintains its position at the forefront of the green transition.

The Green Transition Index, compiled by consulting firm Oliver Wyman, evaluates the sustainability performance of countries based on seven categories: economy, nature, manufacturing, energy, buildings, transport, and waste. According to the latest edition, Spain has fallen five places in the ranking compared to 2022, now ranking 19th, below the European average for the first time. This decline is attributed to improvements made by other nations rather than a significant deterioration in Spain's own performance.

Denmark retains its leadership position, praised for its strong use of renewable energy sources and advancements in decarbonization technologies. Notably, the country is recognized for its pioneering work in green hydrogen and carbon storage projects. “Denmark, which leads the ranking, is a clear example of how a strategic approach and the promotion of clean technologies can accelerate the transition,” said Sofia Marques Cruz, an associate at Oliver Wyman in Spain and Portugal.

Despite falling in the overall rankings, Spain continues to make progress in various sectors, such as the adoption of renewable energy, though challenges remain. In the building sector, Spain's reliance on gas boilers for home heating contributed to its drop in rankings, as the country lags behind other European nations in utilizing renewable energy for residential heating. In the energy sector, Spain also experienced a slight decline, dropping from 7th to 11th place.

The report highlights the role of policy effectiveness and innovation in driving sustainability progress. “Differences in progress towards sustainability not only reflect a country's level of resources, but also the effectiveness of its policies and its capacity for innovation,” Cruz noted.

The analysis also underscores that Scandinavian countries continue to lead in the transition, with Western Europe, the Baltic States, Eastern Europe, and Southern Europe following in succession.