Report on Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goal 7: Energy Access and Clean Cooking

Introduction

The Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 reveals that nearly 92% of the global population now has basic access to electricity, marking an improvement since 2022. However, over 666 million people remain without electricity access, indicating that current progress is insufficient to achieve universal access by 2030. Access to clean cooking is advancing but at a slower pace than in the 2010s, hindered by setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, energy price shocks, and debt crises.

Role of Distributed Renewable Energy and Decentralised Solutions

The report emphasizes the critical role of distributed renewable energy—comprising mini-grid and off-grid solar systems—in accelerating energy access, especially in remote, low-income, and fragile regions. These decentralised, cost-effective, and scalable solutions are essential to reach rural communities.

Decentralised technologies are also vital for expanding clean cooking access. Approximately 1.5 billion rural residents lack clean cooking solutions. Off-grid clean technologies, such as household biogas plants and mini-grids enabling electric cooking, can reduce health risks from household air pollution. Currently, over 670 million people lack electricity, and more than 2 billion depend on polluting fuels like firewood and charcoal for cooking.

Key Progress and Regional Disparities

• International financial flows supporting clean energy in developing countries increased for the third consecutive year, reaching USD 21.6 billion in 2023.
• Installed renewable energy capacity per capita in developing countries rose to 341 watts in 2023, up from 155 watts in 2015.
• Sub-Saharan Africa lags significantly, with only 40 watts per capita of installed renewable capacity—one-eighth of other developing countries’ average. This region houses 85% of the global population without electricity and four out of five families without clean cooking access. The number of people lacking clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa grows by 14 million annually.

Challenges and Financing Needs

The report identifies insufficient and unaffordable financing as a primary cause of regional inequalities and slow progress. To sustain achievements and prevent setbacks in electricity and clean cooking access, enhanced international cooperation between public and private sectors is essential. Key recommendations include:

1. Reforms in multilateral and bilateral lending to increase public capital availability.
2. Mobilization of more concessional finance, grants, and risk mitigation instruments.
3. Improvement in donor risk tolerance.
4. Implementation of appropriate national energy planning and regulatory frameworks.

Key Findings Across Primary Indicators

• Electricity Access: Almost 92% of the global population had electricity access in 2023, with 310 million gaining access since 2015. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 18 of the 20 countries with the largest deficits. Central and Southern Asia showed the greatest growth, reducing their access gap from 414 million in 2010 to 27 million in 2023.
• Clean Cooking Access: Access to clean cooking fuels and technologies increased from 64% in 2015 to 74% in 2023, yet 2.1 billion people remain dependent on polluting fuels. If current trends persist, only 78% will have access by 2030.
• Renewable Energy: In 2022, renewable energy comprised 17.9% of total final energy consumption. Installed renewable capacity reached 478 watts per capita in 2023, a 13% increase from 2022. However, least developed countries and sub-Saharan Africa lag with only 40 watts per capita, compared to over 1,100 watts in developed countries.
• Energy Efficiency: Primary energy intensity declined by 2.1% in 2022, an improvement over 2021 but still below the 4% annual improvement needed to meet SDG 7.3 targets.
• International Financial Flows: Clean energy financial flows to developing countries increased by 27% in 2023 to USD 21.6 billion but remain below the 2016 peak of USD 28.4 billion. Debt-based instruments accounted for 83% of flows, while grants comprised only 9.8%. Funding remains concentrated, with only two sub-Saharan African countries among the top five recipients.

Upcoming Presentation

The report will be presented to policymakers at a special launch event on 16 July 2025 during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, which oversees SDG progress.

Expert Statements on SDG 7 Progress

Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency

“Despite progress in some parts of the world, the expansion of electricity and clean cooking access remains disappointingly slow, especially in Africa. This contributes to millions of premature deaths annually from smoke inhalation and hampers development and education. Urgent investment in clean cooking and electricity supply is needed, including efforts to reduce capital costs.”

Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency

“Renewables have experienced record growth, demonstrating affordability and scalability in reducing energy poverty. However, progress must accelerate, especially in infrastructure development. Limited access to financing remains a barrier. Strengthened international cooperation is essential to scale up affordable financing and impact-driven capital for least developed and developing countries.”

Stefan Schweinfest, Director, United Nations Statistics Division

“This report underscores the urgency to build on achievements and intensify efforts. While renewables now account for nearly 30% of global electricity consumption, their use in other energy sectors remains stagnant. Energy intensity improvements are insufficient, threatening economic growth and energy efficiency goals set at COP28. Immediate mobilization of investments is critical to ensure sustainable energy for all by 2030.”

Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure, World Bank

“With five years remaining to achieve SDG 7 targets, accelerating electricity deployment is imperative, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where half of the 666 million people without access reside. The Mission 300 movement, involving 12 African nations, commits to reforms lowering generation and transmission costs and scaling distributed renewable energy. Such initiatives unite governments, private sector, and development partners in collaborative efforts.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

“Pollutants harming our planet also poison people, causing millions of deaths yearly from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, especially among vulnerable groups like women and children. Scaled-up action and investment in clean cooking solutions are urgently needed to protect health and the environment now and in the future.”

About the Report

This report is published by the SDG 7 custodian agencies: the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), World Bank, and World Health Organization (WHO). It provides a global dashboard tracking progress on energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and international cooperation to advance SDG 7.

The 2025 edition was chaired by IRENA. Funding was provided by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

The full report is available for download at https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article primarily focuses on SDG 7, highlighting progress and challenges in achieving universal access to electricity and clean cooking fuels and technologies.
   • It discusses access to electricity, clean cooking, renewable energy capacity, and energy efficiency.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Health impacts from household air pollution caused by polluting cooking fuels are mentioned, linking to SDG 3 targets on reducing premature deaths from pollution-related diseases.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article references the role of renewable energy and energy efficiency in meeting climate goals and reducing carbon emissions.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • International cooperation, financial flows, and partnerships to support clean energy access in developing countries are emphasized.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 7 Targets
   • Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services (electricity access progress and clean cooking access).
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (installed renewables capacity and share of renewables in total final energy consumption).
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency (primary energy intensity improvements).
   • Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology.
   • Target 7.b: Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries.
2. SDG 3 Targets
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination (health impacts from household air pollution due to polluting cooking fuels).
3. SDG 13 Targets
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet climate goals).
4. SDG 17 Targets
   • Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources (international financial flows to developing countries for clean energy).
   • Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology, and innovation (international cooperation for clean energy access and financing).

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Electricity Access
   • Percentage of the population with access to electricity (92% access globally, 666 million without access).
   • Number of people gaining access to electricity since 2015 (310 million).
   • Regional disparities in electricity access (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa statistics).
2. Clean Cooking Access
   • Percentage of the population with access to clean cooking fuels and technologies (74% in 2023, 2.1 billion people still dependent on polluting fuels).
   • Annual growth rate of people without clean cooking access (14 million increase yearly in sub-Saharan Africa).
3. Renewable Energy
   • Installed renewable energy capacity per capita (341 watts per capita in developing countries, 478 watts globally in 2023).
   • Share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption (17.9% in 2022).
   • Regional disparities in installed renewable capacity (40 watts per capita in sub-Saharan Africa vs. 1,100 watts in developed countries).
4. Energy Efficiency
   • Primary energy intensity (ratio of total energy supply to GDP), with a 2.1% decline in 2022.
   • Required improvement rate of energy intensity (4% per year needed to meet SDG 7.3).
5. International Financial Flows
   • Amount of international public financial flows to developing countries for clean energy (USD 21.6 billion in 2023).
   • Composition of financial flows (83% debt-based, 9.8% grants).
   • Comparison to past financial flows (lower than USD 28.4 billion peak in 2016).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: who.int