Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report

Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report was published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2019. 

The authors state that, despite significant progress in recent years, the world is falling short of meeting the global energy targets set in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. They explain that ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 remains possible,  but more sustained efforts are required, particularly to reach some of the world’s poorest populations and to improve energy sustainability.

More than 800 million people lack access to electricity

Notable progress has been made on energy access in recent years, with the number of people living without electricity dropping to roughly 840 million from 1 billion in 2016 and 1.2 billion in 2010. India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Myanmar are among countries that have made the most progress since 2010. 

However, without more sustained and stepped-up actions, 650 million people will still be left without access to electricity in 2030. Nine out of 10 of them will be living in sub-Saharan Africa. Access to clean cooking solutions and the use of renewable energy in heat generation and transport are still lagging far behind the goals.

The report tracks global, regional and country progress on three SDG7 targets: access to energy and clean cooking, renewable energy and energy efficiency. It identifies priorities for action and best practices that have proven successful in helping policymakers and development partners understand what is needed to overcome challenges.

(The World Bank/ile)

Read more and download the publication Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/energy/publication/tracking-sdg7-the-energy-progress-report-2019?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM13399