New Delhi, June 25: According to the latest report from the United Nations, approximately 655 million people globally, which constitutes 8% of the world’s population, live without electricity. The majority of these individuals reside in sub-Saharan Africa.
Additionally, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Energy Progress Report, released on Wednesday (local time), reveals that 1.8 billion people currently rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, posing significant health risks.
Sub-Saharan Africa is most affected by these deficiencies, with over 560 million people living without electricity and 90 million lacking access to clean cooking facilities. The report emphasizes that to ensure universal electricity supply by 2030, the pace of electrification in this region must triple.
Despite these challenges, the report highlights encouraging progress in several areas of sustainable energy. For instance, the strong expansion of renewable energy continues, accounting for over 30% of global electricity consumption.
The report warns that without immediate and comprehensive action, the world will fail to achieve the SDG 7 targets of ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy access by 2030. Furthermore, the ongoing global energy crisis is expected to have significant impacts on energy markets and the broader economy.
It underscores the need for strong political leadership, improved coordination across sectors, and strategic focus on countries and communities at the highest risk of being left behind as essential priorities for progress by 2030.
The report also stresses the necessity for clear policy signals and ongoing implementation to diversify national energy mixes, expand renewable energy, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and strengthen economic resilience against disruptions in global supply chains.
Li Junhua, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, stated, “We have seen encouraging progress in increasing access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy in recent years.”
He added, “This year’s report indicates that millions of people still lack energy access, highlighting that progress is not aligned with the ambition of Sustainable Development Goal 7, and significant inequalities remain across various countries.”
Li further noted that the current global energy crisis presents an opportunity to accelerate the transition to clean energy in support of energy security.
He concluded, “To seize this opportunity, there must be a significant increase in international support and investment. We cannot afford the risk of complacency. Now is the time for action with greater urgency and ambition.”
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