A high-level special event launched the 2023 editions of the Energy Progress Report and the SDG 7 Policy Briefs, to support governments’ in-depth review of SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) at this year’s UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). Many speakers stressed that scaled up action, including financing, will be essential if SDG 7 is to be achieved by 2030.

Among the many findings presented during the launch, the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary of the meeting highlights that affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all is essential if we are to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Yet, it notes, “we are currently on track to achieve only 15% of all assessable SDG 7 targets.”

Launched on 11 July 2023, the reports include recommendations for implementing the Global Roadmap for Accelerated SDG 7 Action, which was presented as an outcome of the High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) in 2021, and “will help inform” the SDG Summit in September. ENB also flags that the SDG 7 review will support a Global Stocktaking on SDG 7 Implementation that will take place in 2024, as mandated by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), cited the Energy Compacts announced during the HLDE in 2021 as evidence that “transformative progress is possible.” He also noted the Energy Compacts have been selected as one of twelve High-Impact Initiatives to be featured during the SDG Summit.

Damilola Ogunbiyi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, emphasized the need for adequate investment and finance and that the international financial architecture must change.

The Energy Progress Report 2023 was presented by representatives of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), DESA, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO) – the SDG 7 indicator custodian agencies. The Co-Facilitators of the SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group presented the policy briefs, published to help inform in-depth review of SDG 7 by the HLPF. The policy briefs offer recommendations on advancing SDG 7 implementation in support of the 2030 Agenda by:

• Ensuring universal energy access;
• Advancing just, inclusive, and equitable energy transitions; and
• Advancing SDG 7 implementation in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Arab region, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as well as in the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing States (SIDS).

Governments are conducting an in-depth review of SDG 7 on 12 July 2023. The other four Goals under review this year are SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). [ENB Coverage of High-level Launch of Energy Progress Report and Policy Briefs]