2023-06-06 13:09:15
According to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Statistics Division (United Nations), the World Bank and the World Organization (WHO) published today, the world is not on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on energy by 2030.
We are this year halfway through the period set for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.ODD 7 consists in guaranteeing access for all to reliable, sustainable and modern energy services at an affordable cost; including achieving universal access to electricity and achieving clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and dramatically increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix. Achieving this goal will have a profound 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. .
The 2023 edition of Tracking 7 SDG : The Energy Progress Report [Rapport de suivi consacré aux avancées de l’objectif de développement durable 7, uniquement en anglais] draws attention to the fact that current efforts are not sufficient to achieve SDG 7 on time. Progress has been made on specific elements of the SDG 7 achievement agenda; for example, the increase in the rate of use of renewable energy in the electricity sector, however they are insufficient to achieve the targets set out in the SDGs.
The global energy crisis should stimulate the deployment of renewable energies and improve energy efficiency; Indeed, several public policies indicate an increase in investments. However, IRENA estimates show that international public financial flows in support of clean energy in low- and middle-income countries have declined since the period before the COVID-19 pandemic and that funding is circumscribed. to a small number of countries. To achieve the targets of SDG 7 and ensure that people fully benefit from the socio-economic benefits of the transition to sustainable energy, it is necessary to structurally reform international public finances and define new possibilities to unlock investments.
In addition, the report indicates that growing debt and rising energy prices are clouding prospects for achieving universal access to clean cooking and electricity. According to current projections, 1.9 billion people will be without clean cooking methods and 660 million will not have access to electricity in 2030 if we do not take new measures and if we do not continue current efforts.
These shortcomings will negatively impact the health of our most vulnerable populations and accelerate climate change. According to the WHO, 3.2 million people die each year from conditions caused by the use of polluting fuels and technologies, which increase exposure to toxic levels of indoor air pollution.
Main findings of the report
- In 2010, 84% of the world’s population had access to electricity. This percentage increased to 91% in 2021, which means that more than one billion people gained access to electricity during this period. However, the rate of growth of this access slowed in 2019-2021 compared to previous years. Efforts to electrify rural areas have contributed to this progress, however a significant gap remains in urban areas.
- In 2021, 567 million people in sub-Saharan Africa did not have access to electricity, which represents more than 80% of the world’s population without access. The lack of access in the Region remained almost identical to the situation observed in 2010.
- The world is still far from being able to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030. Up to 2.3 billion people continue to use polluting fuels and technologies to cook, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia. Furthermore, the use of traditional biomass means that households spend up to 40 hours a week collecting firewood and cooking, which prevents women from seeking employment or participating in local decision-making bodies and children to go to school.
- According to 2019 WHO estimates, 3.2 million premature deaths each year were attributable to indoor air pollution from the use of polluting fuels and technologies for cooking.
- The share of renewable electricity consumption in global consumption increased from 26.3% in 2019 to 28.2% in 2020, the largest annual increase since tracking of progress towards the SDGs began.
- Efforts to increase the share of renewables in heating and transport, which account for more than three-quarters of global energy consumption, fall short of the target of meeting the goal of limiting global warming to 1 .5°C.
- Energy intensity, a measure of the amount of energy consumed by the global economy per dollar of GDP, improved by 1.8% per year between 2010 and 2020. This figure is higher than the 1.2% improvement recorded in previous decades.
- However, the rate of improvement in energy intensity has slowed in recent years to the point of dropping to 0.6% in 2020. This is therefore the worst year in terms of energy intensity improvement since the global financial crisis, although largely due to pandemic-related restrictions, this may only be a temporary setback. Annual improvements to 2030 must now average 3.4% to meet SDG target 7.3.
- International public financial flows for clean energy in developing countries amounted to US$10.8 billion in 2021, 35% below the 2010-2019 average and only regarding 40 % of $26.4 billion peak reached in 2017. By 2021, 19 countries had received 80% of commitments.
The report will be presented to key decision-makers at a special event on July 11, 2023 at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, ahead of the second SDG Summit scheduled for September 2023 in New York. The authors urge the international community and policy makers to sustain the progress made towards achieving SDG 7, to advance structural reforms and to continue the strategic focus on vulnerable countries that need the most support.
CITATIONS
“The energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to have a profound impact on people around the world. High energy prices have hit the most vulnerable hard, especially those in developing economies. While the clean energy transition is progressing faster than many realize, much more needs to be done to provide sustainable, secure and affordable access to modern energy services for the billions of people who are without them. Successful energy transitions rely on effective policies and technological innovation combined with large-scale mobilization of investment capital. The international community must take advantage of all these tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by the end of this decade”.
Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency
“Cost-competitive renewables have once once more shown remarkable resilience, yet the world’s poorest people are still largely unable to take full advantage of them. To achieve SDG 7 without compromising climate goals, we need to bring regarding systemic change in how international cooperation works. It is essential that multilateral financial institutions direct financial flows more equitably around the world in order to support the deployment of renewable energies and the development of the corresponding infrastructures.
Francesco La Camera, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency
“Despite progress towards meeting the sustainable energy targets at the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Goal 7 appears to be more difficult to achieve than it was in 2015 and larger-scale action is needed if we are to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Access to clean electricity and cooking still great regional disparities and should be at the center of actions so that no one is left behind. Investments must reach the least developed countries as well as sub-Saharan Africa to ensure more equitable progress towards achieving Goal 7.
Stefan Schweinfest, Statistics Division, United Nations
“Despite a recent slowdown in the global pace of electrification, the number of people living without electricity has nearly halved over the past decade, from 1.1 billion in 2010 to 675 million in 2021. to make additional efforts and take urgent action to ensure that the poorest and hardest to reach people are not left behind. To achieve universal access by 2030, the development community must scale up clean energy investments and policy support.
Guangzhe Chen, Vice President, Infrastructure, World Bank
“We must protect the next generation by acting now. Investing in clean, renewable solutions to support universal energy access is how we can bring regarding real change. Bringing clean cooking technologies to homes and reliable electricity to health care facilities can play a critical role in protecting the health of our most vulnerable populations.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization
About the report
This report is published by the bodies responsible for monitoring SDG 7, namely the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Statistics Division (United Nations) , the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) and aims to provide the international community with a global dashboard to record progress in energy access, energy efficiency, energy and international cooperation to advance SDG 7.
This is the ninth edition of this report, formerly known as the Global Monitoring Framework. This year’s edition was led by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report can be downloaded at [lien]
The report was funded by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.
Media contacts
AIE: Merve Erdil, [email protected]
IRENA: Nanda Febriani Moenandar, [email protected]
Statistics Division (United Nations): Francyne Harrigan (UNDGC), [email protected] ; Pragati Pascale (Department of Economic and Social Affairs), [email protected]
World Bank: Lucie Blyth (Energy Sector Management Assistance Program), [email protected]
OMS : [email protected]Paul Safar, [email protected]
Technical focal points
AIE : Gianluca Tonolo, [email protected]
IRENA: Mirjam Reiner [email protected] & Gerardo Escamilla [email protected]
Statistics Division (United Nations): Leonardo Souza, [email protected]
World Bank: Elisa Portale [email protected] et al Jiyun Park [email protected]
OMS : [email protected]Heather Adair-Rohani, [email protected]Josselyn Mothe, [email protected]
1686062928
#Basic #energy #access #lags #renewable #energy #opportunities #report #finds
