by See Woo Kim Elin

The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) were adopted in 2015 by all UN member states. It is preceded by Agenda 21 and the MDGs (United Nations Millennium Development Goals). There are five Ps of sustainability: people, planet, prosperity, partnership, and peace.

7 Affordable and clean energy: ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Target 7.1: Closing the Energy Access Gap

The average U.S. household uses 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year. 750 million people do not have access to electricity; 660 million people will still not have access to electricity in 2030; and 2.6 billion people do not have access to clean cooking. In terms of renewable energy, globally there were already close to three terawatts of renewable energy capacity in 2020, representing nearly 29% of all power generation, and renewables accounted for 82% of newly installed capacity that year.

Target 7.2: Rapidly transitioning to decarbonized energy systems

By 2030, substantially increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, which takes the amount of renewable energy including solar, wind, geothermal, and hydrothermal, and compares it to all final consumption (heat, electricity, cooking facilities). The single largest share in 2026 is to supply around 37 percent of the world’s electricity by 2030.

Target 7.3: Mobilizing adequate and predictable finance

By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is using less energy to perform the same task with the same intensity (ratio of total energy supply versus annual GDP (gross domestic product)). Allow us to observe how energy use rises and falls and see social and economic development factors. Using less energy in society can make us more efficient, which is good for our world. There should be a three percent improvement to meet the target

Target 7.4: Harnessing innovation, technology, and data

By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

Target 7.5: Leaving no one behind on the path to a net-zero future

By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, small island developing states, and land-locked developing countries, following their respective programs of support.

What were the efforts that the UN made?

First and foremost, they intend to hold a conference on Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.In 2021, the high-level dialogue on energy resulted in the global roadmap for accelerated SG7 action, which provides a guide for collective action on energy across sectors that transcends individual and piecemeal approaches and delivers scaled-up and broad impact. Includes two sets of milestones for 2025 and 2030.

The high-level political forum

The high-level political forum is the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs at the global level.

2023 HLPF: “accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels”.

The 2023 HLFP is envisioned as an opportunity for stakeholders to assess progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda in its entirety, including the interlinkages between goals, and to promote integrated actions that cut across the three dimensions of sustainable development, creating co-benefit, addressing trade-offs, coherently meeting multiple objectives, and leaving no one behind.

The expert group meeting

A global expert group meeting (EGM) will be convened by DESA to discuss progress and challenges regarding SDG 7 and share lessons learned, including synergies with other SDGs.

This year’s HLFP, including the review of SDG7, will inform the SDG summit to be held at the UN general assembly in September, presenting a significant opportunity to strengthen political commitment and scale up collective action towards the achievement of the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris agreement

SOURCE FROM THIS: Goal 7 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org)