As carbon dioxide emissions and resource depletion become increasingly severe, the technology of aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) has become a hotspot and urgent topic and the determination of technological potential on a global scale is the basis for effective technology application. This study evaluates the application potential of aquifer thermal energy storage based on a new GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) paradigm which combines suitability, vulnerability and sustainability assessments with considering decision makers' attitudes. Decision makers can get insight into the relevant suitability, vulnerability and sustainability results under different decision attitudes and then combine these results to complete the potential map of aquifer thermal energy storage according to their needs and expectations. It is an early global overview for the application prospect of aquifer thermal energy storage. The global potential evaluation results display where the aquifer thermal energy storage technology is likely to be, or has potential to apply. The "Moderate" results show that the proportion of potential surface area is 20% in Asia, 48% in Europe, 16% in Africa, 21% in North America, 50% in South America and 59% in Oceania. Also, the evaluation results are consistent with the current developments condition of the aquifer thermal energy storage technology. Such a new potential evaluation paradigm and its results are expected to promote the application of aquifer thermal energy storage technology.