Tracking Progress on Sustainable Development Goal 7: Energy Access and Sustainability Report 2025

Overview of SDG 7 and Report Collaboration

The Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 offers a comprehensive global update on the advancement toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. This report is a collaborative effort by the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), World Bank, and World Health Organization (WHO).

Global Electricity Access and Regional Disparities

Significant progress has been made in increasing global electricity access, with 92% of the world’s population connected as of 2023. However, major regional disparities persist:

1. Central and Southern Asia: Notable reductions in populations without electricity.
2. Sub-Saharan Africa: Remains the most affected region, accounting for 85% of the global population without electricity. Population growth outpaces electrification efforts.
3. Key Countries: Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia collectively represent over one-third of the global electricity access gap.

Challenges and Solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Efforts to expand electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant challenges, particularly in rural areas where 84% of people without electricity reside. The report emphasizes the importance of decentralized renewable energy solutions to achieve SDG 7 targets:

• Decentralized Technologies: Mini-grids and off-grid solar systems are critical for remote and conflict-affected areas.
• Cost-Effectiveness: These solutions are often more feasible and economical than extending traditional grids.
• Recent Progress: Between 2020 and 2022, decentralized solutions accounted for over half of new electricity connections in Sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrating resilience amid global economic challenges.

Access to Clean Cooking Solutions

Access to clean cooking fuels remains a pressing issue, directly linked to SDG 7 and health-related goals:

• As of 2023, 2.1 billion people still rely on polluting fuels such as wood, dung, and charcoal.
• Global access to clean fuels increased from 64% in 2015 to 74% in 2023, but progress is insufficient to reach universal access by 2030.
• Sub-Saharan Africa faces the largest deficit, with only 7% of the rural population having access to clean cooking compared to 42% in urban areas.
• The reliance on traditional fuels disproportionately affects women and children, causing health problems and limiting educational and economic opportunities.

Renewable Energy Share and Capacity

Renewable energy plays a pivotal role in achieving SDG 7 and climate-related Sustainable Development Goals:

• In 2022, renewables accounted for 17.9% of total final energy consumption globally.
• Renewable electricity generation reached nearly 30%, driven mainly by solar and wind energy.
• Regional disparities exist: Latin America and the Caribbean have high shares of modern renewables, whereas Sub-Saharan Africa relies heavily on traditional biomass, with only 12% modern renewable energy consumption.
• Installed renewable energy capacity reached a record 478 watts per capita globally in 2023, but developed countries have 3.4 times more capacity per capita than developing countries.
• Sub-Saharan Africa’s capacity remains low at 40 watts per capita, indicating limited access to modern energy services.

Energy Efficiency Progress

Energy efficiency improvements are critical for sustainable energy consumption and achieving SDG 7.3:

• Global primary energy intensity improved by 2.1% in 2022, recovering from a 0.5% gain in 2021.
• To meet the SDG 7.3 target of doubling the improvement rate by 2030, an annual improvement of approximately 4% is required.
• Countries such as China, France, and Germany lead in energy efficiency improvements, while many others lag behind.
• Increased investments and robust policy frameworks are essential to accelerate progress.

International Financial Flows for Clean Energy

Financial support for clean energy in developing countries is vital for achieving SDG 7:

• International public financial flows reached $21.6 billion in 2023, marking a 29% increase from the previous year.
• Solar energy attracted the largest share of funding ($9.44 billion), followed by wind and hydropower.
• Most funding benefits larger developing economies, while least-developed countries receive a smaller portion.
• Continued and equitable financial mobilization is necessary to support inclusive energy access.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The report concludes that while progress toward SDG 7 is evident, it remains uneven and insufficient to meet the 2030 targets. Key recommendations include:

• Accelerate global and regional efforts to expand electricity and clean cooking access, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Prioritize decentralized renewable energy solutions to reach remote and underserved populations.
• Enhance energy efficiency through stronger policies and increased investments.
• Mobilize inclusive and sustained financial flows to support clean energy transitions in developing countries.
• Strengthen international cooperation and innovation to ensure equitable progress toward universal energy access.

Achieving SDG 7 is essential not only for energy sustainability but also for broader social, economic, and environmental development aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article focuses primarily on SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.
   • Issues such as electricity access, clean cooking fuels, renewable energy share, energy efficiency, and financial flows for clean energy are discussed.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Health impacts from reliance on polluting cooking fuels affecting women and children are mentioned, linking to SDG 3.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article references renewable energy growth and international climate goals, connecting to climate action efforts.
4. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Access to energy is linked to economic opportunities and poverty reduction, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

1. SDG 7 Targets
   • 7.1: Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030.
   • 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
   • 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
   • 7.b: Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services in developing countries.
2. SDG 3 Target
   • 3.9: Reduce illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination (linked to clean cooking fuels).
3. SDG 13 Target
   • 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (implied through renewable energy and energy efficiency progress).
4. SDG 1 Target
   • 1.4: Ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources, including access to basic services like energy.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Electricity Access
   • Percentage of the population with access to electricity (e.g., 92% global access, 666 million without access).
   • Regional disparities in access, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and rural areas.
2. Clean Cooking Access
   • Percentage of population relying on clean cooking fuels (74% in 2023, up from 64% in 2015).
   • Urban vs rural access rates (7% rural vs 42% urban in Sub-Saharan Africa).
3. Renewable Energy Share
   • Share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption (17.9% in 2022).
   • Share of renewables in electricity generation (nearly 30% globally in 2022).
   • Installed renewable energy capacity per capita (478 watts globally, 40 watts in Sub-Saharan Africa).
4. Energy Efficiency
   • Global primary energy intensity improvement rate (2.1% in 2022, target of 4% annual improvement).
5. Financial Flows
   • International public financial flows supporting clean energy in developing countries ($21.6 billion in 2023).
   • Distribution of funding by energy type (solar, wind, hydropower) and by country development status.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: solarquarter.com