The ‘Tracking SDG 7: Energy Progress Report 2024’ reveals critical shortfalls in the global quest to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030. Despite progress, significant gaps persist, particularly in underserved regions. Globally, 685 million people lacked access to electricity in 2022, a reduction from 957.5 million in 2015, but access remains uneven, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the brunt. The clean cooking crisis continues, with 2.1 billion people reliant on polluting fuels, down from 2.7 billion in 2015, but projections indicate 1.8 billion may still lack access by 2030.
Renewables accounted for 18.7% of total energy consumption in 2021, up from 16.7% in 2015, yet far short of the 32–35% needed to meet climate goals. Energy efficiency improved slightly, with primary energy intensity dropping from 4.9 MJ/USD in 2015 to 4.6 MJ/USD in 2021. Financing remains a bottleneck; international public financial flows to developing nations reached $15.4 billion in 2022, well below the $28.5 billion peak in 2016. Urgent action is needed to drive equitable clean energy transitions that ensure availability, affordability and accessibility of clean solutions.
The session will aim to discuss strategies for mobilizing actions for achieving universal energy access, advancing clean energy adoption, and improving energy efficiency, whilst ensuring sustainable progress toward SDG 7 by 2030.