Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023

Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023

News: The world is facing challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) by 2030. (As per the Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023 report)

Background:
 The report has been released by a collaborative effort of the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations Statistics Division, World Bank and the WHO.

About SDG 7:
 SDG 7 refers to Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims at reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.

What are factors stopping from achieving SDG 7?
 Factors such as high inflation, uncertain macroeconomic outlook, debt distress, and limited financial flows have contributed to the world falling off-track in achieving SDG 7.
 Several economic factors such as Uncertain macroeconomic outlook and high levels of inflation, Currency fluctuations and debt distress in many countries, Lack of financing and supply chain bottlenecks and Tighter fiscal circumstances and soaring prices for materials.

Key recommendations:
 Scale up efforts to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet the targets of SDG 7.
 Accelerate progress in energy intensity improvement to exceed the targeted rate and ensure sustainable energy consumption patterns.
 Monitor and track progress regularly to identify gaps and take necessary corrective measures.
 Increase financial flows and investment in clean energy technologies especially in developing countries.

India and SDG 7:
 India is ‘On-Target’ to meeting universal access to electricity. In April 2018 India achieved its goal, ahead of schedule, of providing electricity to every village in India
 However, despite a national policy push for clean fuel for cooking, more than two-thirds (479) of districts remain ‘Off-Target’.
 India’s initiatives for SDG7 include - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (also known as Saubhagya), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) (separation of agricultural and nonagricultural feeders to improve supply), Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) (for financial restructuring and turnaround plan for state DISCOMs), Atal Distribution System Improvement Yojana (ADITYA) and PM-KUSUM.