Geography
Sustainable Development Goal 7
Sustainable Development Goal 7 aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This goal focuses on increasing the use of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. It also seeks to expand infrastructure and technology for providing clean energy in developing countries, ultimately contributing to environmental sustainability and economic development.
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11 Key excerpts on "Sustainable Development Goal 7"
- Brian P. McCullough, Timothy Kellison, E. Nicole Melton, Brian P. McCullough, Timothy Kellison, E. Nicole Melton(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
Sustainable Development Goal 7: affordable and clean energy
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20 An overview of Sustainable Development Goal 7
Sheila N. Nguyen and Greg DingleDOI: 10.4324/9781003023968-20Within the framework of Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, SDG 7 is to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” (General Assembly, 2015 , p. 19). As is noted by the United Nations, access to “affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is crucial to achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals—from poverty eradication via advancements in health, education, water supply, and industrialization to mitigating climate change” (United Nations Statistics Division, 2020 ). However, people's access to energy varies widely across nations, and current progress falls short of what is needed to achieve SDG 7. Furthermore, some key features of human access to energy underpin the rationale for SDG 7. First, an increasing proportion of the global population has gained access to electricity, yet 1.1 billion people still live without it. Second, over 40% of the world's population still rely on polluting and unhealthy fuels for cooking. Third, renewable energy use grew modestly between 2000 and 2012, yet renewables’ share of energy grew at an annual rate of 4% between 2010 and 2012. Fourth, global economic growth is decoupling from energy use, but not quickly enough (United Nations Statistics Division, 2020). Together, these indicators reflect a broad-based rationale for SDG 7, and the urgency of achieving sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy for all people.It is also worth noting that SDG 7 is linked to other SDGs in several ways (Nurunnabi et al., 2020 ). These include eradicating poverty (SDG 1), promoting clean industry (SDG 9), and reducing GHG emissions (SDG 14). Nurunnabi et al. (2020) note the significance attached to energy access, citing former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who argued that “energy is the golden thread” that links economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability (Ki-moon & United Nations, 2012 ; United Nations, 2012
- Jonas Ebbesson, Ellen Hey(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
7 SDG 7: Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy for All Stuart Bruce and Jorge E. Viñuales abstract The global strategic priorities articulated in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, underscore a narrative of two ‘economies’ and the conscious evolution of political prioritization in economic structuring. SDG 7 represents an aspiration to move away from the ‘old’, entrenched, ‘brown’ economic activities that developed out of the Industrial Revolution, built upon conventional fossil fuels and exhaustible natural resources, and towards ‘new’, low-, or zero-carbon-based ‘green’ economic activities that are built upon clean energy, electrification, and the decarbonization of all aspects of modern life. This narrative gives rise to numerous legal complexities and challenges for international law, derived from its structure, content, and functions related to energy activities. This chapter first explores the content of SDG 7. It then surveys the international rules and processes that may assist and/or hinder the progressive realization of SDG 7. The chapter closes by considering the role and influence of selected international institutions and non- state actors in advancing and implementing SDG 7. keywords SDG 7, sustainable energy, energy poverty, human rights, climate change, trade and investment, global governance, international institutions, non-state actors 7.1 introduction The global strategic priorities articulated in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, underscore a narrative of two ‘economies’ and the conscious evolution of political prioritization in economic structuring. 185
- Rasyikah Md Khalid, Ainul Jaria Maidin, Rasyikah Md Khalid, Ainul Jaria Maidin(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 delivers a collective plan not only for the human community but the world. With its 17 SDGs, all countries were called for a “global partnership” to improve health and education, reduce inequality, enhance economic growth, combat climate change, and preserve natural heritage. One of the goals is SDG 7 which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. It is also hoped that by 2030, international cooperation is enhanced to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology. Infrastructure and technology will be ready to supply modern and sustainable energy services for all developing and the least developed countries.Energy is a fundamental element to support the development of physical and social infrastructures to eradicate poverty. With more than a billion people having limited access to electricity, centralised and decentralised energy infrastructures are desirable according to SDG 7 targets (Nerini et al., 2018). Nevertheless, the achievement of SDG 7 requires financial expenditure, much effort, and time-consuming work (Nam-Chol & Kim, 2019). The SDG framework conveys the possibility and responsibility of the world’s nations to embark on rigorous efforts at the national level. However, the goals are proposed targets and are not criteria for decision-making (Büyüközkan et al., 2018).SDG 7 could lead to the achievement of other goals such as human development, economic growth, and climate change mitigation (Nam-Chol & Kim, 2019). The energy sector has both direct and indirect relations to global issues such as employment, poverty, pollution, and ecosystems. With minimal access to energy, a country will remain undeveloped as hunger ubiquitously affects the people (Büyüközkan et al., 2018). Conversely, energy access has been improved tremendously with the impressive expansion of RE in the power sector through self-electrification in rural areas (Blenkinsopp et al., 2013; Kitchen & O’Reilly, 2016). Comprehensive and effective laws and policies concerning RE are imperative to drive the maximum potential of these renewable resources and ultimately navigate towards SDG 7 and the other SDGs. Swain and Karimu (2020) suggest a strong interaction between RE prices with SDG 7 and SDG 8, while future renewable price movements are subject to SDG 12. The increasing cost of RE will influence the affordability of clean energy. McCollum et al. (2017) elaborate on the links between SDG 7 and the other SDGs (see Table 7.1
eBook - ePubSustainable Development Goals and the Catholic Church
Catholic Social Teaching and the UN's Agenda 2030
- Katarzyna Cichos, Jarosław A. Sobkowiak, Ryszard F. Sadowski, Beata Zbarachewicz, Radosław Zenderowski, Stanisław Dziekoński, Katarzyna Cichos, Ryszard F. Sadowski, Beata Zbarachewicz, Jarosław A. Sobkowiak, Radosław Zenderowski, Stanisław Dziekoński(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
7Prospects for sustainable development of the energy sector in the times of global climate change and environmental threats Zbigniew Łepko, Marek Niezgódka, Piotr Burgoński and Dominika Żukowska-GardzińskaIntroduction
Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) of the document Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda) calls for access to sustainable energy to withstand global climate change and growing environmental threats. It proposes to search for a balance between energy expectations of civilised humanity and respect for animate and inanimate natural resources. The goal refers to the concept of sustainable development according to which the security of current and future generations can be guaranteed only if the balance of natural, economic and social components of the natural environment is maintained. To this end, a number of challenges need to be addressed, in particular technical/technological, geographical/natural, economic, sociopolitical, legal/administrative and moral/ethical. Each of these challenges can be discussed separately based on a specific area of sustainable energy. However, the aim of this paper is to focus primarily on those areas which explore a common ground between technological and ethical challenges. This way, local energy projects can be prepared and their global future effects can be predicted. Also, it is possible to explore technological challenges related to energy acquisition, transmission and use with respect to the guidelines of Catholic social teaching. It is particularly worth exploring sustainable energy from the perspective of the common good, social justice and broadly understood poverty.Sustainable energy in light of the principle of the common good
From the point of view of Catholic social teaching, the energy sector should be discussed in relation to the issues pertaining to the common good. The concept of the common good refers to a set of natural and cultural conditions conducive to comprehensive human development (Catechism of the Catholic Church
Available until 27 Jan |Learn more- Jeffrey D. Sachs(Author)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Columbia University Press(Publisher)
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation. This goal seeks to ensure that every person has access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as sanitation and hygiene. The goal also calls for large strides in reducing water pollution and raising the efficiency of water use.SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, sustainable modern energy. This goal aims to end “energy poverty,” in which households lack access to electricity and safe cooking fuels. The targets include major strides in the provision of renewable (low-carbon) power and in energy efficiency.SDG 8: Promote sustainable economic growth and decent work for all. SDG 8 might be considered the economic development goal. SDG 1 calls for ending extreme poverty; SDG 8 calls for economic growth to raise incomes per person and to enable today’s poor countries to narrow the gap with high-income countries. Targets also emphasize full employment, decent work, labor rights, and the end of modern slavery and human trafficking.SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure and promote sustainable industrialization. SDG 9 recognizes that many countries in the developing world lack key infrastructure: quality road networks, power grids, fiber grids (for the Internet), rail networks, and suitable ports and airports. Yet in the twenty-first century, having infrastructure will not be enough. It must also be sustainable, meaning resilient to environmental stresses and also “green” in that it imposes little pressure on the natural environment. Future infrastructure, for example, should support the transition to a decarbonized energy system by around 2070. Other targets under this goal call for improved innovation systems (to speed the development and diffusion of new technologies) and sustainable industrialization, especially in low-income regions such as sub-Saharan Africa where industrialization is still very low and incomplete.SDG 10: Reduce inequalities within and among countries
eBook - PDFTransforming Multilateral Diplomacy
The Inside Story of the Sustainable Development Goals
- Macharia Kamau, Pamela Chasek, David O'Connor(Authors)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
MOVING BEYOND THE MDGS 175 MOVING BEYOND THE MDGS: ENERGY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, EMPLOYMENT, AND EQUALITY FOR THE NEW AGENDA The next four goals represent some of the most transformational SDGs. Goal 7 begins to expand the agenda contained in the MDGs, addressing a number of root causes of poverty and inequality, as well as the linkages among the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainable de-velopment. With the exception of Goal 7, on energy, many developed countries did not initially support these goals, India’s Amit Narang re-flected, but the developing countries saw them as an important pillar of the SDGs. 14 The major challenge for the co-chairs was to achieve agreement among member states that were at different stages of—and had different views on—industrialization and economic development. GOAL 7. Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable, and Modern Energy for All Energy has increasingly come to be recognized as a basic need, just like water, food, clothing, health care, and education. Nevertheless, one in five people worldwide still lacks access to modern electricity, and three billion still rely on animal waste, charcoal, coal, and wood for heating and cook-ing. 15 In the OWG, delegates recognized the need for an SDG on energy, which would also contribute to poverty eradication, food security, clean water, public health, education, inclusive and equitable economic growth, and tackling climate change. The big question was how the SDGs could help everyone, especially those in remote areas of the poorest countries, gain access to clean energy. water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies 6.b Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management SOURCE: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6. 176 THE BIRTH OF THE GOALS For many developing countries the focus was on access to energy irre-spective of the technology.
- Godwell Nhamo, Charles Nhemachena, Senia Nhamo, Vuyo Mjimba, Ivana Savić(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Emerald Publishing Limited(Publisher)
Fig. 5.2 . What emerges from the Composite Index is that several countries including the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Uruguay had achieved SDG 7 based on the 2019 report. Bolivia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras and Nicaragua emerged as having significant challenges, while Haiti and Mexico had major challenges. The major challenges for these two economies could be associated with heavy dependence on fossil fuels for Mexico and the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. As this book was being finalised, Hurricane Dorian had caused major damage in the Bahamas, including the destruction of major energy infrastructure. The effects were felt immediately and will be felt for a long time to come in the future.Fig. 5.2. LAC Composite Index SDG 7.Source : Authors, based on Sachs et al. (2019 ).Fig. 5.3 presents an overall picture regarding trends in access to electricity, clean fuels and renewable energy for the years 1990–2016. Linked to the issue of making available greater quantities of renewable energy resources through either process and-or product innovation is the issue of providing clean and modern energy for cooking. This is core to SDG 7 and links to other critical SDGs, notably relating to good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13) and eliminating poverty (SDG 1). Interestingly, access to clean and modern energy for cooking has grown, and it is approaching 90% of the population. This perhaps indicates increased access to electricity.Fig. 5.3. Trends in Access to Electricity, Clean Fuels and Renewable Energy (1990–2016).Source : Authors, data from WDI (2018).The interesting issue is that overall access to electricity has been above 90% since 2004, and there is a good chance the LAC will attain universal access by 2030 (World Bank, 2018 ). This is despite the drag of Haiti, the region’s laggard, and challenges in economies that include Venezuela and Argentina. Significantly, regional access to electricity in rural areas rose from 76% in 2004 to 92% over the 14-year period under review (World Bank, 2018 ). Nominal growth in both renewables and non-renewables account for this growth. However, growth in renewable energy consumption as a proportion of total final energy consumption has shown a decline from about 32% in 1990 to about 28% in 2016 (Fig. 5.3 ). Among the big LAC countries with less than 10% of renewable energy share in the final consumption are Argentina and Mexico (Fig. 5.4
eBook - PDF- Stephen Scoffham(Author)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
While time will tell the effectiveness of the Sustainable Development Goals, the proactive language sets out a clear agenda for the role of education and institutions in actively promoting sustainable development. Sustainable development is commonly thought of as having three mutually support- ing dimensions – economic, social and environmental. These work together and link to the idea of quality of life for all, recognising that we live in an interconnected world. They also relate to some of the ‘big’ questions that geography seeks to answer, namely: n Where is this place? What is it like and why? n Why and how is it changing? What will it be like in the future? What kinds of futures do we want? n What do people do here? How are their actions influenced by, and how do they impact on, environments at different scales? n How is this place connected to other places? How am I connected to other people and places? n Who gets what, where, when and how? Who decides? n What’s it got to do with me? Why should I care? Sustainability education is relevant across the entire curriculum and is best approached through holistic teaching and learning. It has a particular association with geography and requires careful underpinning with geographical thinking and knowledge. Issues concern- ing sustainability and the environment have a values-led and affective base, often articulated as a need to ‘care for the world’, which can sometimes eclipse other necessary components of knowledge and critical thinking. While values and emotions are intrinsic and inescapable facets of sustainability, being properly equipped to respond to these issues also demands some degree of cognitive understanding about how and why human, biological and physical worlds interact with and affect each other.
eBook - PDF- Saket Kushwaha(Author)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Delve Publishing(Publisher)
Future Prospects of Sustainable Development CHAPTER 7 CONTENTS 7.1. Introduction .................................................................................... 176 7.2. Human Well-Being And Competencies ........................................... 177 7.3. Sustainable And Economies ............................................................ 178 7.4. Food Systems And The Patterns Of Nutrition ................................... 179 7.5. Energy De-Carbonization With Worldwide Access .......................... 180 7.6. Urban And Peri-Urban Development .............................................. 181 7.7. Global Environmental Commons .................................................... 182 7.8. Science For Ecological Development .............................................. 183 7.9. Not Incremental Alteration And Transformation .............................. 183 References ............................................................................................. 185 Sustainable Development: Closing the Loop 176 7.1. INTRODUCTION The latest Report of Global Sustainable Development (SD) recognizes s6 entry points that deliver the most potential for accomplishing the anticipated transformations at the necessary scale and the speed. In doing so the report considers the earnestness, the forward-looking potentials about a increasing global population looking for higher levels of well-being and normative considerations, like leaving behind no one, these aren’t entry points into specific or even groups of Goals, but instead into the fundamental systems (Haggag and Ayad, 2002; Ehnert and Harry, 2012). Simultaneously, not attending to inter-linkages that are inherent to the entry points and cut across them-for instance, through concentrating on specific targets and goals-would risk progress across several elements of 2030 Agenda.
eBook - PDFSustainable Development Goal Nine and African Development
Challenges and Opportunities
- (Author)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- LIT Verlag(Publisher)
Through partnerships a shared use of the energy infrastructure becomes possible, thus help- ing to achieve SDG 7 (Energy Access and Sustainability). Solar plants can be built for mining complexes, and a part of the power which is generated will feed the national grid or a local grid. Similar opportunities exist for the mining sector to contribute to other SDGs. The mining industry can work towards economic growth and employment (SDG 8), towards creating a more resilient infrastructure (SDG 9), and towards combating climate change and its impacts (SDG 13). A mapping of Mining to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by UNDP, World Eco- nomic Forum and the Columbia Center on Sustainable Development (UNDP/WEF/CCSD, White Paper, July 2016) in the form of an Atlas shows that there are plenty of opportunities for the mining industry to support the implemen- tation of the SDGs. Such an Atlas is only a first step toward building a dialogue around mining’s contributions to the post-2015 development agenda. It illustrates the types of partnerships which will facilitate positive outcomes for the global mining industry and for the global implementation of the SDGs. Africa could ben- efit a lot from such actions. Success will however require an unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration among governments, non-governmental organi- zations, development partners, the private sector and the local communities which are affected by mining operations. Mining corporations can undertake successful local initiatives for infrastruc- ture development, as in the cases of infrastructure projects on water, sanitation, health, environment, and the construction and maintenance of schools. Case stud- ies of local initiatives for infrastructure development are revealing; the prerequi- sites for successes are identified.
eBook - ePubAfrica in the Post-2015 Development Agenda
A Geographical Perspective
- Leo Charles Zulu, Cristina D'Alessandro(Authors)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Taylor & Francis(Publisher)
3 . The SDGs were meant to be more ‘action-oriented, concise and easy to communicate, limited in number, aspirational, global in nature, and universally applicable to all countries, while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development, and respecting national policies and priorities’ (UNDP, 2012, p. 63). Through them, a better balance is sought among the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of development (Bates-Eamer, Lee, Lim, & Kapila, 2012; Osborn, Cutter, & Ullah, 2015).Some of the SDGs reflect clarification or a breakdown of the original MDGs to bring more attention to particular previously neglected issues, or to draw attention to emerging ones. For instance, the separation of poverty and hunger (MDG 1) into two goals (SDGs 1 and 2) reflects the critical importance of both goals, while concerns over growing income inequities between the rich and poor are newly captured (SDG 10, and parts of SDG 4, 8, and 11) along with goals for addressing the need for sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12). SDGs reflecting issues that have emerged over the past 15 years include recognition of rapid urbanization, especially in SSA, as a major trend for the twenty-first century (Grant, 2015) that poses sustainable development challenges that need to be addressed, but also offers opportunities than should be seized for urban areas (SDG 11). Other emerging issues include concerns over climate change (SDG 13), especially as Africa is the most vulnerable continent and one least able to deal with adverse climate impacts; and the importance of equitable access to sustainable and reliable energy as a major driver of economic and social development (SDG 7), and to reliable infrastructure (SDG 9). Sustainable natural resources management and environmental stewardship strategies have also been enhanced, with the inclusion of marine and oceanic resources (SDG 15) and conservation of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15). The following section summarizes contributions from the articles in the special issue on lessons from Africa’s performance on some of the MDGs and the challenges and opportunities as we transition to the SDGs. Given the enormity of the development issues, sectors, and dimensions that that the MDGs and the greatly expanded SDGs seek to address, these contributions are no more than a partial sample of those issues to illustrate how geographic analysis has contributed and continues to be uniquely placed to contribute to debates and the search for effective development solutions focusing on Africa.
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