655 million people still living without electricity underscore urgent need for universal energy access
Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report, released on 24 June, shows uneven progress on the targets measured under Sustainable Development Goal 7—clean, affordable energy for all.
Some 655 million people are still living without electricity and two billion people are still using polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, putting their health and well-being at risk. The report, featuring new 2023 and 2024 data, shows that while most regions are nearing universal access, progress in Sub-Saharan Africa has slowed significantly.
On the positive side, renewable energy continued its strong expansion, accounting for over 30 per cent of global electricity consumption, while renewable energy-generating capacity reached a global record of 544 watts per person. However, the report warns that without urgent and scaled-up action, the world will fall short of achieving SDG 7 by 2030.
The report is published by the SDG 7 custodian agencies: the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Bank and the World Health Organization.