THE world is now at the halfway point to achieving access to clean and affordable energy, the key to the development of agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare and transportation.
This is contained in Sustainable Development Goal 7, one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
By 2030, developed and developing countries should have enhanced international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
These include renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
Experts have said lack of access to energy supplies and transformation systems has been a constraint to human and economic development.
The environment provides a series of renewable and non-renewable energy sources i.e. solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, biofuels, natural gas, coal, petroleum, uranium.
Increased use of fossil fuels without actions to mitigate greenhouse gases will have global climate change implications.
Energy efficiency and increased use of renewables contribute to climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.
The facts are:
3 billion people rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for cooking and heating
Energy is the dominant contributor to climate change, accounting for around 60 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions
Since 1990, global emissions of carbon dioxide have increased by more than 46 per cent.
Hydropower is the largest single renewable electricity source today, providing 16 percent of world electricity at competitive prices and dominates the electricity mix in several countries, developed, emerging or developing.
Bioenergy is the single largest renewable energy source today, providing 10% of world primary energy supply.
Authorities have set targets linked to the environment:
By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programs of support
Sad to note that at midpoint of Agenda 2030, the SDGs are in jeopardy as progress stalls amid the climate crisis, economic fluctuations, conflicts and pandemic aftermath.
With just under seven years left to achieve the SDGs, we call on world leaders for quick delivery for sustainable development, leaving no one behind.