SDG 7 Agenda: Global Target on Energy Unattainable by 2030 – Report
A joint report from the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United Nations Statistics Division, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization, published on Tuesday, reveals that the global progress towards attaining Sustainable Development Goal 7 for energy by 2030 is insufficient.
The 2023 edition of “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report” warns that current efforts are not enough to achieve SDG 7 on time, though there has been some progress on specific elements of the SDG 7 agenda.
According to the report, 2023 marks the halfway point for achieving SDGs by 2030.
It says SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
Also Read: Nigeria’s Oil Production Drops below 1mb/d – Report
The goal includes reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historical efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.
The report states that attaining the goal would have a deep impact on people’s health and well-being, helping to protect them from environmental and social risks such as air pollution, and expanding access to primary health care and services.
It states further that the global energy crisis is expected to stimulate the deployment of renewables and improve energy efficiency with several government policies pointing to increasing investment.
The report also finds that mounting debt and rising energy prices are worsening the outlook for reaching universal access to clean cooking and electricity.
“Current projections estimate that 1.9 billion people will be without clean cooking and 660 million without electricity access in 2030 if we do not take further action and continue with current efforts.
“These gaps will negatively impact the health of our most vulnerable populations and accelerate climate change. According to WHO, 3.2 million people die each year from illness caused using polluting fuels and technologies, which increase exposure to toxic levels of household air pollution,” the report reads.
