SDG 7 Progress Report
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), together with partner organisations, has published this year's SDG 7 progress report and a series of policy briefs. SDG 7 is about affordable and clean energy for all. The report looks in particular at the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic and how current policies can help achieve SDG 7, and identifies steps, especially much-needed investments, that are necessary for achievement. The report also highlights interactions between SDG 7, SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Although UN DESA has noted progress in access to electricity and clean cooking facilities as well as in the share of renewable energy, there is a big but behind every success. For example, the increase in the number of people with access to electricity is slowing down, and while the cooking situation has improved in large parts of Asia, for example, the situation in sub-Saharan Africa remains dramatic. Furthermore, the share of renewable energies of 17.7 % is clearly too low to become emission-free in energy supply by 2050. The decline in energy efficiency is also a misguided development in this respect.