As the world approaches the midpoint of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we find ourselves in a deeply concerning situation regarding SDG7 – the goal of ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. Alarming trends in energy poverty have emerged, underscoring the urgent need for bold and unprecedented levels of international collaboration and investment to get the world back on track. 🚨
The Backsliding in Energy Access
For the first time in over a decade, the number of people without access to electricity has increased, reaching a staggering 685 million in 2022 – a 10 million increase from the previous year. This alarming reversal of positive trends witnessed earlier this century is the result of a confluence of factors, including disruptions in global energy markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and instability in the Middle East. 😓
If this trend continues unabated, more than 660 million people will still be without electricity access in 2030 – a devastating failure in our pursuit of SDG7. Unacceptably, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicenter of this crisis, accounting for a staggering 80% of the global population living in energy poverty. The disparity in energy consumption is stark, with the average person in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) consuming a mere 180 kWh per year, compared to their counterparts in wealthy nations enjoying 6,000-13,000 kWh annually. 😮
The Path Forward: Mobilizing Unprecedented Collaboration and Investment
However, there are still reasons for hope, and they lie in the power of international cooperation and increased investment in sustainable energy solutions. The recent partnership announced by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030 is a shining example of the kind of collaborative action needed. 👏
The Need for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment
But make no mistake – this is a race against time, and we must act with unwavering determination. The current pace of renewable energy adoption still falls short of what is required to achieve the Paris Agreement’s mid-century net-zero targets and meet the immediate development needs of those living in energy poverty. 😕 Ending energy poverty by providing the “modern energy minimum” of 1,000 kilowatt-hours per person per year will require an enormous additional annual energy demand.
Mobilizing Investment in Emerging Markets
Yet, the share of global clean energy investment in emerging markets and developing economies outside China is expected to remain at a mere 15% of the total in 2024 – far below the level needed to ensure full access to modern energy and meet rising demand in a sustainable manner. 😦 We must strengthen existing policies, mobilize greater investment, and focus our efforts on the remote and low-income areas where most of the unelectrified population resides. 💪
Unlocking the Transformative Power of Energy
Energy creates opportunity – when investments in electricity are paired with investments in the tools to use that energy productively, incomes grow, productivity rises, new businesses emerge, jobs are created, and people thrive. 🤩 This is the transformative power we must harness to leave no one behind in the global energy transition.
The time for bold action is now. The world cannot afford another year of backsliding on SDG7, and the only way to reach net-zero emissions is through an energy transition that truly leaves no one behind. 🚀 I urge world leaders, policymakers, and global stakeholders to heed this call and work together with unprecedented levels of collaboration and investment.
The future of our planet and the wellbeing of hundreds of millions of people depend on it. Let’s make 2024 the year we turn the tide and put the world firmly on the path to achieving universal energy access by 2030. 💯 Together, we can make this vision a reality! 🌍✨