GOAL OF THE MONTH – GOAL 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
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Where Are We
Goal 7 focuses on ensuring access to clean and affordable energy, vital for the development of various sectors like agriculture, business, education, healthcare and transportation. The world continues to advance towards sustainable energy targets – but not fast enough. The connection between clean energy, socio-economic development and environmental sustainability is crucial in addressing issues faced by vulnerable communities worldwide.
Lack of access to clean energy disproportionately affects women and children, leading to harmful household air pollution. Accelerating electrification, investing in renewables, improving energy efficiency, and adopting enabling policies are essential. Consequences of energy lack include hindrances in healthcare, hygiene and communication.
Energy lies at the core of the climate challenge and is pivotal to the solution. In fact, energy consumption accounts for 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly the burning of fossil fuels for electricity and heat generation. The landmark agreement reached at COP28 urges Parties to do a ‘stocktake’ towards a global transformation, aiming to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by the year 2030.
Additional solutions involve countries investing in renewables, businesses prioritizing eco-friendly practices, employers promoting energy-efficient transportation, and individuals adopting energy-saving habits like using power strips and opting for sustainable modes of transport.
Read more about Goal 7: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy/
International Day of Clean Energy
The first International Day of Clean Energy was observed on 26 January. In his message on the day, UN Chief António Guterres welcomed the call made by countries to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. He stressed a fossil fuel phase out is not only necessary but inevitable, but governments need to take action and to accelerate the transition. To do so, he emphasised the need to unleash a surge of climate finance and in particular, for governments to reform the business model of multilateral banks so that affordable finance flows.
“A fair, just, equitable, and urgent transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy is essential to avoid the worst of climate chaos and spur sustainable development.” – UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, 26 January 2024
SDG 7 IN NUMBERS
- Coal, oil and gas (fossil fuels) are responsible for nearly 90% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
- At the current pace, about 660 million people will still lack access to electricity and close to 2 billion people will still rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking by 2030.
- Renewable sources power nearly 30 per cent of energy consumption in the electricity sector, but challenges remain in heating and transport sectors.
Energy Highlights
‘Close Door on Fossil Fuel Era’, Urges Secretary-General in Message for International Clean Energy Day
SDG 7 is essential to both achieving the SDGs by 2030 and reaching the climate goals under the Paris Agreement. The General Assembly will hold a Global Stocktaking on SDG7 in April 2024 to accelerate action, assess progress and recommend solutions. Read more
Small scale, reliable and renewable: Clean electricity is changing lives in Madagascar
Listen to an interview with Moritz Brauchle, MD of Africa GreenTec Madagascar, a social enterprise which provides sustainable energy solutions to some of the 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa currently living without any access to electricity. Read more
Our clean energy future is unstoppable
Read more about the clean energy transition and how it is vital to fight climate change in this article from the UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC).
In Focus
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5-14 | UN Commission for Social Development
At the midpoint of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, millions around the world still lack access to essential services like education, healthcare, food, water, social protection and digital technology. The 62nd session of the UN Commission for Social Development on 5 to 14 February in New York will identify concrete measures and innovative solutions to promote social justice and digital transformation and ensure no one is left behind.
Government ministers, senior UN officials, experts from academia, the private sector, civil society organizations and local innovators will gather to address the theme: “Fostering social development and social justice through social policies to accelerate progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to achieve the overarching goal of poverty eradication”. Follow here on UN WebTV
26 – 1 March | UN Environment Assembly
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, with a universal membership of all 193 Member States.
It sets the global environmental agenda, provides overarching policy guidance, and defines policy responses to address emerging environmental challenges. It undertakes policy review, dialogue and the exchange of experiences, sets the strategic guidance on the future direction of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and fosters partnerships for achieving environmental goals and resource mobilization.
The UNEA is now preparing for its sixth session (UNEA-6) that will take place from 26 February to 1 March 2024 at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
27 February – 1 March | UN Statistical Commission
To fully monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, decision makers need data and statistics that are accurate, timely, sufficiently disaggregated, relevant, accessible and easy to use. The 55th session of the UN Statistical Commission, the highest body in the international statistical system, will be held at UNHQ in New York from 27 February to 1 March to address, among many others, social and demographic statistics, population and housing census, big data and data science. A series of virtual side events are planned in the weeks leading up to the Commission as well as the traditional in-person events taking place on the margins of the Commission. Read more here.
ACTNOW for our Common Future
ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals. From switching to energy-efficient appliances to exploring renewable energy options at home, you can take action and join the global movement for change! un.org/actnow
Upcoming International Days
10 | World Pulses Day
Pulses: nourishing soils and people – This celebration presents a unique opportunity to raise public awareness about pulses and the fundamental role they play in the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. Pulses: nourishing soils and people
11 | International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly will take place on 8-9 February 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Join women in science leaders and experts from around the world, high-level government officials, representatives of international organizations and the private sector, to discuss women leadership in achieving the three pillars of Sustainable Development, namely economic prosperity, social justice and environmental integrity. Register to join: https://www.womeninscienceday.org/
Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future, to be held in New York 22-23 September 2024, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the multilateral system to address existing and emerging challenges, improve global governance and accelerate the implementation of existing commitments, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Summit will have as its outcome an inter-governmentally agreed Pact for the Future. Stay tuned for more: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Awake at Night Podcast
Season 8 of the UN’s award-winning podcast is now streaming! Hosted by UN Communications Chief, Melissa Fleming, Awake at Night gives exclusive insights into the inspiring lives of the extraordinary people that make up the United Nations.
Discover all the episodes here: https://pod.link/1429922419