World Off Track To Achieve SDG 7 On Energy Access By 2030, New Report Warns

The International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), World Bank, and World Health Organization (WHO) jointly released a report, underscoring that the world is falling short of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) for energy by 2030.

SDG 7 aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, including universal access to electricity and clean cooking, and increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix. The report, titled “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2024,” highlights critical challenges and trends in global energy access and sustainability.

Despite some progress in renewable energy deployment, the report warns that current efforts are insufficient. Key findings include a reversal in electricity access progress, with 685 million people now living without electricity—10 million more than in 2021. Most of these individuals reside in Sub-Saharan Africa, where population growth outpaces new electricity connections.

Regarding clean cooking, 2.1 billion people still lack access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, a figure that has remained stagnant despite global efforts. This lack contributes significantly to health issues, gender inequality, and environmental degradation, causing 3.2 million premature deaths annually.

On a positive note, renewable electricity consumption grew by over 6% in 2021, marking progress in the transition to cleaner energy sources. However, disparities persist, with developed countries having significantly higher renewable energy capacity per capita compared to developing nations.

The report also highlights the slow pace of energy efficiency improvements, which are crucial for meeting SDG 7 targets. Although there was a slight improvement in energy intensity in 2021, it remains well below what is needed.

International financial flows for clean energy in developing countries saw a rebound in 2022, reaching USD 15.4 billion, yet this amount is far from the peak levels needed to accelerate progress. The report stresses the urgent need for increased investments in renewable infrastructure and sustainable technologies, particularly in underserved regions.

The findings of the report will be presented at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development on July 15, urging global leaders to prioritize and accelerate actions towards achieving universal energy access and sustainability by 2030.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, emphasized the critical need for immediate and concerted global efforts, stating, “We are racing against time to achieve SDG 7. The disparity in renewable energy investments underscores the urgency to focus on the least developed and developing economies, ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to sustainable energy.”