Progress, challenges, and the road ahead
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has stagnated since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises. The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. Among the goals, SDG 7 aims to ensure access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy for all. As we enter the home straight for the SDGs, it is crucial to evaluate where developing countries stand in achieving SDG 7.
Mark M. Akrofi According to the 2024 Sustainable Development Report, progress in these nations has been uneven, with significant strides forward but formidable challenges remaining.
The percentage of the global population with access to electricity has improved significantly in many developing regions. For example, East and South Asia have shown a notable increase in access, with countries like India achieving near-universal electrification. However, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to lag, with several countries still struggling to provide electricity to large portions of their populations. Access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, another critical aspect of SDG 7, remains a significant challenge in many developing countries. Despite improvements, a substantial portion of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia still relies on traditional biomass for cooking, which poses severe health risks and environmental impacts.
Moving forward
Despite some progress, the pace of renewable energy adoption in developing countries is insufficient to meet the 2030 targets. For instance, renewable energy still accounts for only a small share of total final energy consumption in low-income countries. This slow progress is attributed to several factors, including inadequate infrastructure, financial constraints, and policy barriers. To overcome these barriers, policymakers in developing countries need to focus on creating stable and transparent policy environments that encourage investment in clean and renewable energy. This includes setting clear renewable energy targets, offering incentives for energy efficiency, and removing subsidies for fossil fuels.
We also need more international cooperation to finance clean energy investments in developing countries. A good example is the Just Energy Transition Partnership between France, Germany, South Africa, the UK, the USA, and the EU, which was launched at last year's UN Climate Conference (UNFCCC COP28). Financial and technical assistance from developed countries and international organizations also needs to increase to support large-scale renewable energy projects and provide grants and concessional loans for energy infrastructure development.
Developing countries must also leverage technology and innovation through investing in research and development to adapt and deploy advanced energy technologies. Partnerships with international research institutions and the private sector can facilitate technology and knowledge transfer. Leveraging technology and innovation requires building local capacity through training programs for engineers, technicians, and policymakers to develop the necessary skills and knowledge for managing not only clean energy systems but also an equitable transition.
While the journey towards achieving SDG 7 is fraught with challenges, particularly for developing countries, it is an enormous opportunity that can be harnessed to accelerate progress on other crucial priorities such as employment, access to education, and healthcare. The 2024 Sustainable Development Report makes it clear that without intensified efforts and enhanced international cooperation, many developing countries may fall short of the targets set for 2030. As the world grapples with climate change and sustainable development, ensuring universal access to clean and affordable energy must remain a global priority. Nonetheless, this priority must integrate the principles of a just transition -- we must ensure that the transition from fossil fuels to renewable, low-carbon energy sources, meets current and future energy needs in an economically viable, socially inclusive, and environmentally responsible manner.
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The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations University.
Mark M. Akrofi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability and Kyoto University Graduate School of Energy Science, Japan.
