The SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) custodian agencies have launched their annual progress report summarizing global progress on access to electricity, access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking, renewable energy as a share of energy consumption, energy efficiency, and international financial flows in support of clean and renewable energy.

The 2026 edition of the Energy Progress Report, co-produced by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), features new 2023 and 2024 data. Overall, the report finds that while there is significant progress, it is not happening fast enough for the SDG 7 targets to be achieved by 2030.

While most regions are approaching universal energy access, in Sub-Saharan Africa, over 560 million still lack electricity, and 970 million have no access to clean cooking, according to the report. Estimates indicate that for Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve universal access by 2030, the pace of electrification would need to triple.

While renewables supply more than 30% of electricity globally, the report points to significant regional disparities, with renewables’ share in heat and transport remaining limited. Progress on energy efficiency has slowed from 2.4% in 2022 to 1.5% in 2023. At the same time, increases in international public financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy were marginal – from USD 24.4 billion in 2023 to USD 24.6 billion in 2024.

The 2026 Energy Progress Report supported the SDG 7 in-depth review at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

The 2026 SDG 7 Policy Briefs, compiled by the multistakeholder SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) also informed the review. The Policy Briefs provide evidence-based policy recommendations for accelerating SDG 7, highlight its interlinkages with other Goals, and offer regional perspectives on SDG 7 advancement.

Convened by DESA, the SDG 7 TAG is composed of over 40 experts from governments, UN organizations, international organizations, and other stakeholders.

Released in June ahead of the HLPF, both the Energy Progress Report and the SDG 7 Policy Briefs were formally launched in the margins of the Forum on 8 July, during a special event on ‘Implementing the Global Plan of Action for the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All to 2030.’ During this special event, UN Energy also launched its Work Programme for 2026-2030, setting out priority areas for accelerated action for achieving SDG 7. [Publication: Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2026] [Executive Summary] [Publication Landing Page] [Joint Press Release] [Publication: SDG 7 Policy Briefs in Support of the UN High-level Political Forum 2026: Accelerating Action on SDG 7 and Its Interlinkages for a Final Push Towards 2030] [DESA Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Policy Brief Previewing HLPF Review of SDG 7]