Large-scale renewable adoption (plus storage and fusion R&D) is associated with modestly higher global GDP, more jobs, lower and less volatile energy prices after 2030, and sharply lower emissions and security risks versus continued fossil fuel dependence, although it requires very high upfront investment, rapid grid and mining expansion, and careful management of social and geopolitical side-effects. Continued fossil dependence keeps near-term capital costs lower but raises long-term macro, climate, and security risks, especially for net importers like the US, EU, China, and India by 2050. ipcc +9

Core macroeconomic outcomes 2020–2050

• IRENA's global transition scenarios find that aligning with a 1.5° pathway raises global GDP by roughly 2–3% by 2050 compared with business-as-usual, mainly via efficiency gains, reduced fuel imports, and new investment in renewables and grids. IMF and BIS work similarly conclude that higher clean-energy investment (rising from about 1.3% to ~2.7% of global GDP by 2030) supports growth but can create medium-term inflationary pressure during the build-out phase. irena +5
• IEA's Net Zero by 2050 roadmap projects that global energy demand is met with slightly higher cumulative investment but lower total system costs once avoided fossil fuel spending is included, with electricity costs peaking around 2030 and then falling toward 2050 in net-zero scenarios. energytransition.techint +3
• Economists' surveys and macro-models generally find that benefits of mid-century net-zero (avoided climate damages, health gains, energy security) outweigh transition costs, but there is disagreement on short-term