The journey towards achieving universal energy access by 2030 is a critical mission, and time is of the essence. At the current rate of implementation, by 2030, a staggering 1.9 billion people will still lack access to clean cooking, and only 92% of the global population will have access to energy.
In July 2023, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) served as a crucial platform to evaluate the progress towards SDG7 on affordable and clean energy. As the focus remained on recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a renewed call for urgent and collective action to accomplish the SDGs by 2030. A key message emphasized that achieving SDG7 by 2030 is an unprecedented challenge but still feasible, if only we can implement the right policies and action.
This year’s Forum has set the stage for the upcoming SDG Summit, which is expected to “mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs” and “reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda”. Energy Compacts have been selected as one of the twelve high-impact initiatives in support of the SDG Summit in September 2023. The focus will be on raising collective commitments by governments, businesses and other stakeholders from $600 billion to trillions of dollars, and accelerating partnerships. This is especially relevant when developing countries are facing a $2 trillion investment gap for energy transition annually. Overall, the SDG Summit is expected to move forward with an adoption of political declaration and a roadmap to put the world back on track to achieving all the 17 goals. For example, accelerating access for the 1.9 billion people without access to clean cooking can also support education, gender equality, and sustainable land management due to the interlinked nature of the SDGs.
This bulletin delves into a range of important themes including clean energy investment, digital technology, energy storage, universal energy access, and gender-just energy transition. Featured initiatives include the public-private-community partnerships in Cambodia, the sustainability mobility initiative in Uruguay, and solar-powered healthcare in Jamaica.
Read the full SEH Bulletin 2.
The journey towards achieving universal energy access by 2030 is an urgent and critical mission that demands our immediate attention. Time is of the essence, as the current rate of implementation indicates that a staggering 1.9 billion people will still lack access to clean cooking by the target year. Additionally, only 92% of the global population will have access to energy, highlighting the immense challenge that lies ahead.
In July 2023, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) provided a crucial platform to assess the progress made towards Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) on affordable and clean energy. Against the backdrop of ongoing recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a renewed call for urgent and collective action to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The discussions emphasized that while achieving SDG7 within the given timeline is an unprecedented challenge, it remains feasible if we can implement the right policies and take decisive action.
The HLPF served as a precursor to the upcoming SDG Summit, which is anticipated to mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs. The summit aims to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda. Among the twelve high-impact initiatives selected to support the SDG Summit, Energy Compacts have taken center stage. The focus will be on mobilizing collective commitments from governments, businesses, and other stakeholders, increasing financial resources from billions to trillions of dollars, and fostering accelerated partnerships. This becomes particularly relevant as developing countries face a staggering annual investment gap of $2 trillion for energy transition. The SDG Summit is expected to adopt a political declaration and establish a roadmap to put the world back on track towards achieving all 17 goals. It is worth noting that accelerating access to clean cooking for the 1.9 billion people without it can also contribute to progress in areas such as education, gender equality, and sustainable land management, given the interconnected nature of the SDGs.
This bulletin delves into a wide range of important themes, including clean energy investment, digital technology, energy storage, universal energy access, and gender-just energy transition. It highlights notable initiatives such as public-private-community partnerships in Cambodia, a sustainability mobility initiative in Uruguay, and solar-powered healthcare in Jamaica. These examples serve as beacons of innovation and progress, demonstrating how various stakeholders are actively working towards a sustainable energy future.
By exploring these themes and initiatives, we can deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with achieving universal energy access. The bulletin encourages us to think beyond traditional approaches and consider innovative solutions that leverage clean energy, digital advancements, and inclusive partnerships. Together, we can make significant strides towards a more sustainable and equitable energy landscape, benefiting communities and ecosystems worldwide.
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