Are there signs of a decoupling between GDP and CO2 emissions?

“ O ptimistic” takes on the energy transition point out that if enough investment is made (in the production and storage of renewable energies, in electricity grids, in the decarbonisation of transport and industry, in the thermal renovation of buildings and housing), it will be possible to fully decarbonise the economy, i.e. to fully decouple GDP from CO 2 emissions. The “pessimists” , meanwhile, believe that this will not be possible, that GDP and CO 2 emissions will remain linked, and that the only way to reduce CO 2 emissions will then be to reduce GDP. We look at the link between GDP and CO 2 emissions for the world, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, China, India and the rest of the world, and we seek signs of a decoupling between GDP and CO 2 emissions. We find a decline in CO 2 emissions relative to GDP that is accelerating in the United States, Europe and somewhat in India and China, but not in the other emerging countries or in the world as a whole.