An objective, globally consistent framework to measure decoupling between fossil fuel use and economic growth, either through reduced fuel use or shifts toward cleaner/more efficient combustion has been published. Analysing 5,435 cities globally over 2019–2024, the research has identified significant trends for 2,475 cities and classified them into four decoupling states.

The researchers found that 80% of these cities, mainly located in China, Europe and North America, enjoy relative decoupling, whereas 16%, mainly located in India and the Middle East, experience fossil fuel-dependent growth. Beyond these patterns, the described scalable satellite-based methodology can be revisited regularly to monitor city-level green growth and support urban policy effectiveness.

The research aims to understand the extent to which cities are generating economic prosperity while reducing their dependence on fossil fuel combustion, in the absence of inconsistent emissions and economic data.