ENERGYNOW SDG7 Action Forum 2023
Join us for the ENERGYNOW SDG7 Action Forum 2023, an event in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. From 13-22 September 2023, this engaging event will unfold at and around UN Headquarters in New York and virtually. Read More and See Events Here >>
High-level Event on Energy Compacts Aims to Scale Up Ambition to Deliver on SDG7
A high-level event held on 17 September at UN Headquarters focused on how Energy Compacts are a vehicle to scale up ambition on SDG 7, as a High Impact Initiative featured on SDG Acceleration Day, the day before the UN SDG Summit. Speakers, including energy ministers and leaders from international organizations, business and youth networks, shared their achievements under the Energy Compacts and spoke of the need to use the Compacts to mobilize additional support and commitments. Read More >>
Energy Compact Annual Progress Report 2023
New multi-billion-dollar commitments have brought the finance and investment pledged through Energy Compacts over the trillion-dollar mark, according to the second Energy Compacts Annual Progress Report, released on 15 September 2023. Since the Compacts were started in 2021, they have had a significant impact, enhancing electricity access for 129 million people, and providing access to clean cooking for 22 million.
UN-Energy Leaders Meet to Discuss Way Forward
Heads of UN-Energy organizations met virtually on 13 September for their annual Principals meeting to share ideas for how UN-Energy can best accelerate action on SDG7 for universal energy access and a just, inclusive and equitable energy transition. The session was led by UN-Energy Co-Chairs Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP, and Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, as well as Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and head of UN DESA, which serves as the secretariat for UN-Energy.
New UN-Energy Policy Brief provides Roadmap on Clean Cooking
An advanced unedited version of the new UN-Energy Policy Brief “Achieving Universal Access by 2030 and Net-Zero Emissions by 2050: A Global Roadmap for Just and Inclusive Clean Cooking Transition” is now available online.
High-Level Launch of Energy Progress Report and Policy Briefs - Sets Stage for SDG7 Review by Governments
A high-level launch event was held on 11 July to present the findings and recommendations of the 2023 editions of Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report and the SDG7 Policy Briefs, as a contribution to the in-depth review of SDG7 by Governments at this year’s High-level Political Forum.
Mr. Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, welcomed participants, stating that the evidence in these two reports shows that, at the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda, we are way off-track for reaching our energy promises and commitments, but with rapid acceleration of global efforts, it is still possible to achieve SDG7 by the target year. He called for swift implementation of the outcomes of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy, including the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG7 Action and the Energy Compacts, which have been selected as one of twelve High-Impact Initiatives to be featured in connection with the SDG Summit in September. Read More>>
Full compilation of the SDG7 Policy Briefs now available online
Compiled by the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG), the Policy Briefs on SDG7 in support of the UN High-level Political Forum provide concrete policy recommendations towards achieving SDG7, based on data analysis. This year’s compilation includes not only regional perspectives on advancing SDG7, but also insights on just, inclusive, and equitable energy transitions. The SDG7 TAG is made up of 40 multi-stakeholder experts convened by UN DESA.
Expert Webinar: Just, inclusive and equitable energy transition: A framework for advancing the SDGs and a net-zero, climate-resilient future
Join us on 7 July, 08:30–09:30 EDT (NY time), for this webinar on “Just, inclusive and equitable energy transition: A framework for advancing the SDGs and a net-zero, climate-resilient future.”
The SDG7 Policy Briefs are developed in support of the High-level Political Forum which this year will review progress and action needed on SDG7. Compiled by the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG), these policy briefs provide concrete policy recommendations towards achieving SDG7. The SDG7 TAG is made up of 40 multi-stakeholder experts convened by UN DESA. This webinar will feed into a policy brief under development on this subject.
Click this link to join the virtual event: https://bit.ly/3O3QR93
Experts Outline Global Roadmap for Just and Inclusive Clean Cooking Transition
Expert speakers presented a timeline for what actions are needed to eliminate cooking poverty by 2030, achieve universal access to modern cooking technologies by 2040, and get to net-zero emissions from cooking by 2050.
Expert Webinar: Towards A Global Roadmap for the Just and Inclusive Clean Cooking Transition
Join us on 5 July, 08:30–09:30 EDT (NY time), for this webinar on “Towards A Global Roadmap for the Just and Inclusive Clean Cooking Transition” moderated by Minoru Takada (UN DESA). Our presenters, Heather Adair-Rohani (WHO) and Zijun Li (World Bank), will explore key elements of a potential global clean cooking transition roadmap for the world, as an integral part of accelerating just, inclusive, and equitable energy transitions.
This webinar will feed into the on-going development a UN-Energy Policy Brief on this issue. A series of policy briefs have been compiled by the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG) and UN-Energy, in support of the High-level Political Forum which this year will review progress and action needed on SDG7 and its interlinkages with other SDGs.
Click this link to join the virtual event: https://bit.ly/3py96Ke
Two new UN-Energy Policy Briefs on Power System Connectivity and Critical Raw Materials Development now available online
The two UN-Energy Policy Briefs are issued in support of the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF). These briefs shed light on Advancing Power System Connectivity in Support of SDG7 and on Aligning Critical Raw Material Development with Sustainable Development, providing important policy recommendations. Additional thematic policy briefs will be published online in the next weeks leading up to the review of SDG7 at the HLPF on 12 July 2023.
Advancing Power System Connectivity in Support of SDG7
Aligning Critical Raw Material Development with Sustainable Development
UN-Energy Experts Call for Increased Investment in Power Grid Connectivity and Improved Governance of Critical Raw Materials
More investment and harmonized regulatory
frameworks are needed to improve power grid
connectivity across borders, and thus enable greater
access to and sharing of modern and renewable
energy resources, as well as resilience in the face of
power disruptions.
Expert Webinar Series: “Facilitating the Just and Inclusive Energy Transition: Supporting the Sustainable Development of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) and Advancing Power System Connectivity”
Join us on 27 June, 08:30–09:30 EDT (NY time), for this webinar on “Facilitating the Just and Inclusive Energy Transition: Supporting the Sustainable Development of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) and Advancing Power System Connectivity.” Our presenters will share their valuable insights and recommendations and shed light on the necessary actions to drive progress towards a net-zero future.
These Policy Briefs are developed in support of the High-level Political Forum which this year will review progress and action needed on SDG7. They provide concrete policy recommendations towards achieving SDG7.
Click this link to join the virtual event: bit.ly/42XU2U0
Webinar speakers, clockwise from upper left: Shifaana Thowfeequ, Programme Management Officer, UN OHRLLS; Hans Olav Ibrekk, Special Envoy for Climate and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and Co-facilitator of the SDG7 TAG (moderator); Rayen Quiroga, Chief, Energy and Water Unit, UN ECLAC; Anthony Monga Mehlwana, Economic Affairs Officer, UN ECA.
Expert Webinar on "Advancing SDG7: Regional Perspectives from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States"
Moderator Hans Olav Ibrekk opened the webinar by introducing the three policy briefs which had been released online that day.
Rayen Quiroga from UN ECLAC noted that 16 million people in the Latin America and Caribbean region still lacked electricity and 77 million still lacked clean cooking. Of the primary energy supply, 33% is renewable, but the energy efficiency improvement rate is stagnant. ECLAC recommended that an average of 1.3% of the region’s GDP be invested into the energy transition over a decade, which would enable universal access to electricity from renewables, generate 7 million green jobs and reduce CO2 emissions by 31.5%.
Monga Mehlwana from UN ECA stated that 600 million Africans, 43% of the population, lacked access to electricity, mostly in rural areas. 80% of Africans still rely on traditional biomass for cooking, resulting in over 500,000 deaths each year from indoor pollution, with no large-scale improvements seen. ECA was focusing on expediting regulatory reform and developing bankable projects to increase investment in renewables, with an estimated need of $28 billion by 2030, including $13 billion for mini-grids.
Shifaana Thowfeequ from UN OHRLLS said that the 92 countries categorized as LDCs, LLDCs or SIDS accounted for two-thirds of all people globally who lack electricity access, but they received less than a third of global financing, with international public financial flows for clean energy falling for the fourth year in a row, down to US$ 10.8 billion in 2021. Electricity access was increasing, but too slowly to reach the SDG7 targets.
Hans Olav Ibrekk wrapped up the webinar by stating that regional differences are part of the energy challenge we face, but across the board we need a quantum leap in investments, in both resources provided and bankable projects to attract and utilize them. The complete recommendations can be found in the policy briefs:
Advancing SDG7 in Africa
Advancing SDG7 in Latin America and the Caribbean
Advancing SDG7 in the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States
Updated Schedule for the Policy Brief Webinars
The schedule for the Policy Brief Webinars in the run up to the UN HLPF 2023 has been updated. Please note that the links to each webinars will be posted on this webpage closer to date. Stay tuned!
Three Policy Briefs on Advancing SDG7 in Africa, Latin America, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS now available online
The next three SDG7 Policy Briefs in Support of the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) are now available online. These briefs shed light on regional progress towards the targets of SDG7, providing important policy recommendations based on data analysis. They are compiled by the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG) which is made up of more than 40 multistakeholder experts convened by UN DESA. Additional thematic SDG7 Policy Briefs will be published online in the next weeks leading up to the review of SDG7 at the HLPF on 12 July 2023.
Advancing SDG7 in Latin America and the Caribbean
Webinar speakers, clockwise from upper left: Sheila Oparaocha, Director, ENERGIA Network (moderator); Dario Liguti, Director, Sustainable Energy Division, UNECE; Radia Sedaoui, Chief, Energy Section, UNESCWA; Hongpeng Liu, Director, Energy Division, UNESCAP.
Expert Webinar on "Advancing SDG7: Regional Perspectives from the Arab region, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe"
15 June 2023
Moderator Sheila Oparaocha opened the webinar, stating that achieving SDG7 with clean, affordable energy for all presents a huge opportunity, but progress is still far off track.
Hongpeng Liu of UN ESCAP noted the major challenge in the Asia-Pacific region that coal accounts for 40% of the energy supply and 60% of energy-related emissions, which continue to grow. Use of renewables is increasing but still under 20% of energy consumption, and only 74% of the population use clean cooking technologies.
Radia Sedaoui of UN ESCWA stated that, with the Arab region producing 32% of the world’s oil, renewables account for only 5.1% of energy consumption and need more investment. In rural areas, electricity access rates averaged 81% and the clean cooking deficit was a challenge, especially in conflict-impacted countries like Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Dario Liguti of UN ECE noted that while Western Europe and North America were leaders in the transition to renewables, in the 17 countries where ECE provides support, the share of renewables in energy consumption had stagnated at 18.2% since 2014, and investment remained low at USD 7.2 billion versus USD 56.6 billion in Western Europe. Renewable energy needed to be diversified from the dominant hydropower, which is vulnerable to climate change, but the affordability of clean technologies and fuels had been heavily impacted by Covid and the war in Ukraine.
The presenters highlighted a number of key recommendations for policy action in their regions which are listed in the three newly published SDG7 Policy Briefs: Advancing SDG7 in the Arab region, Advancing SDG7 in Asia and the Pacific, and Advancing SDG7 in the UN ECE Region.
Three Policy Briefs on Advancing SDG7 in the Arab region, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe, now available online
The first three of the SDG7 Policy Briefs in Support of the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) are now available online. These briefs shed light on regional progress towards the targets of SDG7, providing important policy recommendations based on data analysis. They are compiled by the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG) which is made up of more than 40 multistakeholder experts convened by UN DESA. Additional regional and thematic SDG7 Policy Briefs will be published online in the next weeks leading up to the review of SDG7 at the HLPF on 12 July 2023.
Advancing SDG7 in the Arab Region
Advancing SDG7 in Asia and the Pacific
Advancing SDG7 in the UN Economic Commission for Europe Region
Expert Webinar Series: SDG7 Policy Briefs - “Advancing SDG7: Regional Perspectives from the Arab region, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe.”
Join us for the launch of the new Expert Webinar Series on the SDG7 Policy Briefs! As part of the Soft Launch of the Policy Briefs on SDG7, this webinar series is dedicated to accelerating SDG7 action towards universal energy access and achieving a net-zero future.
Don’t miss out on the first webinar of the series premiering on June 15th, 2023, 8:30 to 9:30am (NY time), which will delve into the topic “Advancing SDG7: Regional Perspectives from the Arab region, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe.” Gain valuable insights from experts in the field, Dario Liguti (Director, Sustainable Energy Division, UNECE), Hongpeng Liu (Director, Energy Division, UNESCAP), Radia Sedaoui (Chief, Energy Section, UNESCWA), as they present the regional policy briefs on SDG7 moderated by Sheila Oparaocha (Director, ENERGIA Network). During this engaging session, we will explore the unique perspectives and challenges faced by the ECE (Economic Commission for Europe), ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), and ESCWA (Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) regions. By sharing valuable insights and recommendations, our presenters will shed light on the necessary actions to ensure universal energy access and drive progress towards a net-zero future.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be at the forefront of SDG7 implementation. Join us as we embark on this important journey towards accelerating global action and achieving a sustainable and inclusive energy landscape for all! Click this link to join the virtual event: bit.ly/3X5lfTm.
SDG7 Tracking Report
2023 marks the halfway point for achieving SDGs by 2030. SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. The goal includes reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix. Attaining this goal has deep impact on people’s health and well-being, to protect them from environmental and social risks such as air pollution, access to primary health care and services.
The 2023 edition of Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report warns that current efforts are not enough to achieve the SDG 7 on time. There has been some progress on specific elements of the SDG 7 agenda, for example, the increased rate of using renewables in the power sector, but progress is insufficient to reach the targets set forth in the SDGs.
The Energy Progress Report is a product of close collaboration among the five SDG 7 custodian agencies in the form of a specially constituted in a Steering Group:
International Energy Agency (IEA)
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
World Bank
World Health Organization (WHO)
Read the full report here: https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/
Executive Summary
UN-Energy Meets to Strategize Action and Way Forward
On 10 May 2023, UN-Energy met in-person for the first time since 2018. With 17 UN-Energy member organizations represented in-person and an additional 7 online, this meeting at UN Headquarters in New York was a milestone for strategic discussions on UN-Energy’s activities and deliverables, and its ambition and future orientation.
The discussions included specific proposals on boosting access to electricity and to clean cooking; as well as on building on the Energy Compact commitments made in connection with the High-level Dialogue on Energy in 2021. Participants also reviewed analytical work on aligning critical raw materials for renewable energy with sustainable development; promoting connectivity to meet the growing demand for electricity; and developing a common framework for just energy transitions.
The meeting also included a moment of silent reflection and tributes in memory of UN-Energy colleague Dr. Thomas Fohgrub, who had passed away unexpectedly. Dr. Fohgrub was the strategic lead of the Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings, hosted within UNITAR. He was remembered as a colleague of unwavering dedication and kindness who cared deeply for the well-being of those less fortunate, and who always brought a positive, selfless and collaborative spirit to UN-Energy.
Expert Group Meets to Strategize on Energy Access and Transition
At the halfway point for achieving the 2030 Agenda, this is a big year for SDG7 — for assessing where we stand on ensuring clean, affordable energy for all, advocating for what’s most needed and boosting energy action to get on track. Progress on SDG7 will be reviewed this year at the High-level Political Forum which is the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs. To provide strategic input, over 60 experts from governments, international organizations, academia, NGOs and youth groups from across the world will meet on 11-12 May in New York. The Expert Group discussions will be summarized along with their action recommendations to get SDG7 back on track — “ensuring universal energy access and advancing just, inclusive and equitable energy transitions” — for consideration by the HLPF at the SDG7 review on 12 July, which will feed into the SDG Summit. More information on the Expert Group Meeting available here.
UN-Energy at Climate COP27
UN-Energy member organizations are hosting and engaging in many discussions and events at the UN Climate Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 7-18 November. See a list of UN-Energy events here.
An official COP27 side event on “Implementing the UN-Energy Plan of Action to catalyse the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG7 Action” is taking place on Saturday, 12 November, from 1:15 to 2:45 Egypt time, in Khufu Hall. The event can be watched online at https://www.youtube.com/c/unfcccint
Energy is key to sustainable development and achieving net zero emissions. The UN Secretary-General’s Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG7 Action charts a clear way forward in this regard. UN-Energy is stepping up its efforts to catalyse progress in implementing the Roadmap, including through the activities identified in the UN-Energy Plan of Action Towards 2025. Milestone targets for 2025 include a 100% increase in modern renewables capacity globally, and a doubling of annual investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as 500 million more people gaining access to electricity and 1 billion more people gaining access to clean cooking solutions. The COP27 side event will look at the UN system’s collective efforts on SDG7 in support of the SDGs and net zero emissions.
One year after the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy brought together leaders from around the world to focus on ways to accelerate energy access and the energy transition, leaders from the UN, national governments, and civil society gathered for the EnergyNow SDG7 Action Forum to discuss challenges and opportunities during the past year and to take stock of progress on the over 185 voluntary Energy Compact commitments, worth over USD 600 billion, that were announced during the Dialogue in September 2021.
The EnergyNow SDG7 Action Forum, organized by UN-Energy, took place on 23 September 2022 on the sidelines of the opening of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) with the aim of catalyzing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (affordable and clean energy) by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Watch the Recording on UN WebTV. (Please fast forward the recording to 21:00 for the start of the Action Forum)
For updates, please follow @UN_Energy on Twitter. For more information and queries, please reach out to the UN-Energy Secretariat at UN DESA (at: salame1@un.org).
Programme (As of 23 September 2022)
Energy Compacts Annual Progress Report
GLOBAL LAUNCH Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2022 & SDG7 Policy Briefs 2022
1 June 2022 – A launch event was hold at UN Headquarters in New York to present the critically important findings of Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2022, as well as the SDG7 Policy Briefs on interlinkages of energy with other SDGs.
The event presentations gave a comprehensive look at where we stand based on the latest energy data available, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the triple crisis of food, energy and finance generated by the war in Ukraine. The launch was co-hosted by the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Sustainable Energy (Denmark, Ethiopia, Norway, Pakistan) as an input to the High-level Political Forum coming up in July, as well as a moment to take stock on the road to implementing the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG7 Action coming out of the 2021 High-level Dialogue on Energy.
Transforming Commitments into Action: Delivering on the outcomes of the High-level Dialogue on Energy
4 May 2022 -Building on the momentum from the 2021 High-level Dialogue on Energy, the UN took a major step to catalyse the large-scale action and support needed for the transition to clean, affordable energy for all and net-zero emissions by launching two major initiatives that aim to deliver on the commitments outlined in the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG 7 Action.
At the launch event, some thirty leading organizations comprising “UN-Energy” put forward a Plan of Action Towards 2025 for how they will help mobilize the much-needed transformational and inclusive energy transition. An Energy Compact Action Network was also established to match those governments seeking support for their clean energy goals with those governments and businesses that have pledged over $600 billion to support these commitments, through their Energy Compact commitments made in connection with the Dialogue.
UN Secretary-General issues roadmap for clean energy for all by 2030
A global roadmap setting out milestones needed to achieve a radical transformation of energy access and transition by 2030, while also contributing to net zero emissions by 2050, was issued on 3 November by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as an outcome of the High-level Dialogue.
Proposed global roadmap shows how universal access to sustainable energy can be achieved by 2030, transforming the lives of millions
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was launched in 2015 to end poverty and set the world on a path of peace, prosperity and opportunity for all on a healthy planet. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demand nothing short of a transformation of the financial, economic and political systems that govern our societies today to guarantee the human rights of all.