Affordable & Clean Energy

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 7 - AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7 or Global Goal 7) is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. It aims to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." Access to energy is a very important pillar for the wellbeing of the people as well as economic development and poverty alleviation.

The goal has five targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards the targets is measured by six indicators. Three out of the five targets are "outcome targets": Universal access to modern energy; increase global percentage of renewable energy; double the improvement in energy efficiency. The remaining two targets are "means of achieving targets": to promote access to research, technology and investments in clean energy; and expand and upgrade energy services for developing countries. In other words, these targets include access to affordable and reliable energy while increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This would involve improving energy efficiency and enhancing international cooperation to facilitate more open access to clean energy technology and more investment in clean energy infrastructure. Plans call for particular attention to infrastructure support for the least developed countries, small islands and land-locked developing countries.

According to a report in 2019, the world is making progress towards achieving SDG 7, but will fall short of meeting the targets by 2030 at the current rate of progress. SDG 7 and Climate change mitigation (SDG 13) are closely related and complementary. In order to achieve long term climate goals, the world needs to put more effort into renewable energy.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_Development_Goal_7