In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly, comprising most of the world’s leaders, committed to ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030. They plan to achieve this by promoting access to research, technology, and investments in clean energy, as well as expanding and upgrading energy services in developing countries. However, as of 2022, nearly a billion people still lack access to electricity, and about 2.4 billion people continue to cook using harmful fuels that negatively impact their health and the environment. Analysts attribute these setbacks to global disruptions from COVID-19 and the spikes in natural gas prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the world is not on track to meet these goals.
The Importance of Energy Efficiency
Improving energy efficiency is a crucial aspect of achieving SDG 7. This involves using less energy to perform the same tasks, thereby reducing energy waste and lowering environmentally harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing energy consumption will also mitigate climate change and lower energy costs for individuals and businesses.
Policy Measures and Government Initiatives
Achieving SDG 7 requires policymakers to delineate comprehensive measures that strongly support energy-saving practices and for governments to drive initiatives that enable widespread adoption of these measures. For example, setting energy performance standards for appliances and buildings, providing tax incentives for businesses that utilise energy-efficient technology, investing in cleaner energy sources for public use, and conducting awareness campaigns are all vital steps.
The Benefits of Eco-Efficient Energy Use
A shift towards eco-efficient energy use would not only result in substantial energy savings but also foster sustainable economic growth, environmental protection, and improved social welfare. However, policies targeting energy efficiency must be more robust and multi-pronged to make appreciable progress towards achieving SDG 7.