A recent report by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs called for "urgent reinforced action and more investment, particularly in least developed countries, on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) on energy by 2030.
The UN's SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. According to the report, governments, businesses and civil society organizations have made tremendous strides in bringing affordable and clean energy to more people in recent years.
However, this progress has been "largely uneven and must be accelerated in order to leave no one behind," the report said.
Closing the energy access gap to benefit the remaining unserved people will be challenging. Maintaining and extending the pace of progress will require strong political commitment, long-term energy planning, stepped-up private financing, and adequate policy and fiscal incentives, it added.
"Current investment is not spread equally." The report noted that 1.3 to 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars per year is required to meet SDG 7, more than twice the current level, adding that energy efficiency and renewable energy investments continue to act as robust socio-economic drivers.
Editor:Yaling
