ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

What is SDG 7?

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA, n.d.) defines SDG 7 as the global mandate to "ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all". As such, SDG 7 is of key importance to the development of agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare and transportation (Division for Sustainable Development Goals, n.d.). The world continues to advance towards sustainable energy targets – but not fast enough. At the current pace, about 645 million people will still lack access to electricity and 1.8 billion people will still rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking by 2030 (UNDESA, 2026, p. 22).

Our everyday life depends on reliable and affordable energy. And yet the consumption of energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for two-thirds of total global greenhouse gas emissions. From 2010 to 2023, the proportion of the global population with access to electricity has increased from 84 per cent to 92 per cent. Ensuring universal access to affordable electricity by 2030 means investing in clean energy sources such as solar, wind and thermal. Expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean energy in all developing countries is a crucial goal that can both encourage growth and help the environment (Division for Sustainable Development Goals, n.d.).

List of References

Division for Sustainable Development Goals. (n.d.). Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/energy/

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2026). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2026/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2026.pdf

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal7#overview