Global Energy Access Progress Uneven As 2030 SDG 7 Targets Remain Out Of Reach – IRENA Report

The 2025 edition of the “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report” presents a detailed account of global efforts and challenges in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7, which calls for universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030. The report is a joint effort by key international agencies, including the IEA, IRENA, UNSD, the World Bank, and WHO. It highlights progress and setbacks across areas such as electricity access, clean cooking, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and international public financial flows.

As of 2023, global access to electricity has reached 92%, up from 87% in 2010. The number of people without electricity has dropped to 666 million, though this progress remains insufficient to meet the 2030 target of universal access. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most critical region, accounting for 85% of the global access deficit, with over 450 million people in rural areas still without electricity. While countries in Central and Southern Asia have significantly narrowed their gaps, progress in Sub-Saharan Africa has been limited due to high population growth and infrastructural constraints.

Decentralized renewable energy (DRE) systems, such as off-grid solar and mini-grids, have played a significant role in improving access, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2020 and 2022, these systems accounted for over half of the new connections in the region. More than 50 million off-grid solar products were sold in both 2022 and 2023. However, to meet the 2030 target, such solutions must be scaled up significantly with more investment, better data, targeted subsidies, and stronger public-private collaboration.

On the clean cooking front, the world is still far from achieving universal access. In 2023, 2.1 billion people—about a quarter of the global population—still relied on polluting cooking fuels. While urban areas have seen higher access, rural areas, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, continue to struggle. If current trends continue, nearly 1.8 billion people will still lack access to clean cooking by 2030. The lack of clean cooking impacts women and children disproportionately due to health issues and time spent collecting fuel. The report calls for stronger investments and integrated efforts across sectors to bridge this gap.

Renewable energy use continues to grow but remains off track for meeting international climate goals. In 2022, renewables made up 17.9% of total final energy consumption globally. Renewable electricity generation has increased, especially from solar PV and wind, but deployment varies widely across countries. Sub-Saharan Africa’s renewable capacity remains low, with just 40 watts per capita compared to over 1,100 watts in developed countries. Achieving the COP28 target to triple global renewable capacity by 2030 would require urgent and massive deployment, particularly in low-income regions.

Energy efficiency is improving, but not fast enough. Global primary energy intensity declined by 2.1% in 2022, a better result than in previous years, yet still short of the 4% annual improvement needed to meet the doubling target by 2030. Progress has been uneven across regions, and only a few countries are currently exceeding the necessary rate.

International public financial flows to support clean energy in developing countries reached USD 21.6 billion in 2023, a 29% increase from 2022. However, funding remains lower than the 2016 peak, and distribution is uneven. Most of the growth has occurred in middle-income countries, while least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) continue to receive minimal support. Solar energy led in financial flows, with USD 9.44 billion committed in 2023.

While some progress has been made in areas like electricity access and renewable energy deployment, major gaps remain in clean cooking, energy efficiency, and equitable financing. The report stresses that achieving SDG 7 by 2030 will require significantly increased investment, enhanced policy ambition, technological innovation, and targeted efforts to support vulnerable regions, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa.