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What We Do

Global Energy Monitor develops and analyzes data on energy infrastructure, resources, and uses.

We provide open access to information that is essential to building a sustainable energy future.

Meeting an urgent need

In a world confronting climate change, data that informs strategies and solutions is more important than ever. Global Energy Monitor studies the evolving international energy landscape, creating databases, reports, and interactive tools that enhance understanding. Our work transforms complexity into clarity, enhancing the quality of public discourse on energy and the environment.

Levels of understanding

GEM is developing a comprehensive set of tools that allow users to zoom out for summaries and analysis at the regional or global scale, or zoom in for background and details on any element of the system — coal mine, nuclear power plant, wind farm, oil extraction field, or fossil gas pipeline.

Open, accessible data

GEM seeks to make reliable energy data available to the world. We make our tools freely available—granting unrestricted access to anyone with an internet connection. We believe that the data we gather should be accessible to everyone, as we believe that everyone is affected by the issues our work addresses.

Accountability and transparency

All data used in Global Energy Monitor’s work is attributed to an original source. These attributions enable users to identify where information is coming from, and to independently verify any information they may want to examine further. As our research efforts strive to follow the pace of global energy development, we remain committed to full accountability and transparency in our work.

Our Work

From its earliest days, GEM has used wiki platforms as a means to ensure accessibility and promote collaboration. From 151 coal plants, GEM’s investigative reach has grown exponentially to encompass a significant swath of the global energy system. GEM.wiki is the culmination of more than a decade of international research addressing vital energy topics.

In 2013, GEM began publishing CoalWire, a weekly digest of significant developments in the global coal industry. In 2014, GEM released the Global Coal Plant Tracker, an interactive database cataloguing thousands of coal-fired plants in all stages of development. The Global Coal Plant Tracker was soon followed by the Global Coal Finance Tracker and the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker.

By the end of the 2010s, GEM’s work was being used by academics, activists, businesses, the media, national and international agencies, and fellow research organizations. As climate change became a more pressing concern on the international agenda, the demand for reliable energy data and analysis grew and, in turn, GEM expanded its research operations to keep up with this demand. Today, GEM’s team consists of researchers from around the world whose work enhances public understanding of the global energy system.

By the end of the 2010s, GEM’s work was being used by academics, activists, businesses, the media, national and international agencies, and fellow research organizations

GEM continues to expand into new research areas

Our Future

Climate change presents an existential threat to humanity, a threat that may only be solved through the careful application of data and information. In a complex, nuanced, and ever-evolving world, GEM’s role is to distill the facts and present them to the public in a way that strengthens the discourse around energy and environmental issues.

GEM continues to expand into new research areas, taking on new projects that promise to extend the breadth and depth of our understanding of the global energy system. Where gaps in this understanding remain, GEM will continue to strive for insight. As our research continues, we remain committed to our founding principles of transparency and accountability.

To stay informed and hear the next chapter in our story, we encourage you to follow us on social media and subscribe to our mailing list.