e b e b e D r e d n i k s E / o t o h P N U ©
AFFO RDABLE AND AFFORDABLE CLEAN CLE AN ENE ENERGY RGY::
the dominant
WHY IT MATTERS
contributor to
Energy i s climate change,
What’s the goal here?
infrastructure, communica-
To ensure access to afford-
Conversely, Conversely, lack of access
able, reliable, sustainable
to energy supplies and
and modern energy for all.
transformation systems is
Why?
a constraint to human and
Our everyday lives depend on reliable and affordable energy services to function smoothly and to develop equitably.
tions and high-technology.
economic development.
I have access to electricity. Why should I care about this goal? For many decades, fossil
A well-established energy system supports all sectors: from businesses, medicine and education to agriculture,
fuels such as coal, oil or gas have been major sources of electricity production, but burning carbon fuels produces large amounts of
accounting
60 per cent
for around
of total global greenhouse gas emissions.
greenhouse gases which cause climate change and have harmful impacts on people’s well-being and
What would it cost to switch to more sustainable energy?
be able to use and further develop hydropower sources of electricity and bioenergy, and commit to
the environment. This
The world needs to tri-
sourcing 100% of oper-
affects everyone, not just
ple its investment in
ational electricity needs
a few. Moreover, global
sustainable energy infra-
from renewable sources.
electricity use is rising rap-
structure per year, from
idly. In a nutshell, without
Employers can reduce the
around $400 billion now
a stable electricity supply,
internal demand for trans-
to $1.25 trillion by 2030.
port by prioritizing telecom-
Regions with the great-
munications and incentivize
est energy deficits—Sub-
less energy intensive modes
Saharan Africa and South
such as train travel over
Asia—need our help to
auto and air travel.
improve energy access.
Over 1.2 billion peo-
Investors can invest more in
That includes pushing
ple—one in five people
sustainable energy services,
harder to find clean, effi-
of the world’s popula-
bringing new technologies
cient, and affordable
tion— do not have access
to the market quickly from
alternatives to health-dam-
to electricity. The major-
a diverse supplier base.
aging cook stoves.
countries will not be able to power their economies.
How many people are living without electricity?
ity are concentrated in
You can save electricity
What can we do to fix these issues?
by plugging appliances
Without electricity,
Countries can acceler-
women and girls have
pletely when not in use,
ate the transition to an
including your computer.
affordable, reliable, and
water, clinics cannot store
You can also bike, walk or
sustainable energy system
vaccines for children,
take public transport to
by investing in renewable
many schoolchildren can-
reduce carbon emissions.
energy resources, prior-
not do homework at night,
itizing energy efficient
To find out more
and people cannot run
practices, and adopting
about Goal #7 and
competitive businesses.
clean energy technolo-
other Sustainable
gies and infrastructure.
Development Goals, visit:
about a dozen countries in Africa and Asia.
to spend hours fetching
Another 2.8 billion people rely on wood, charcoal, dung and coal for cooking
Businesses can maintain
and heating, which results
and protect ecosystems to
in over four million premature deaths a year due to indoor air pollution.
into a power strip and turning them off com-
http://www.un.org/ sustainabledevelopment
