Energy Access: Financial Support Crucial for Progress & Equity

The Energy Access Imperative: Navigating the Path to Universal Electricity and Clean Cooking

The world has reached a critical juncture. While 92% of the global population now has access to electricity, that figure masks a stark reality: over 666 million people still lack basic access. This is the central theme of the recently released 2025 edition of the “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report.” This report isn’t just about numbers; it’s a clarion call for accelerated action, especially in the areas of clean cooking and energy access. The future of development, health, and sustainability hinges on our ability to make significant strides, and rapidly.

The Uneven Playing Field: A Tale of Two Worlds

The report highlights a concerning trend: the disparity in access to clean energy solutions is widening. While some regions, particularly in Central and Southern Asia, have made remarkable progress, sub-Saharan Africa lags dramatically. In this region, 85% of the global population without electricity access resides. This divergence isn’t merely a statistical anomaly; it represents a fundamental inequity, hampering economic growth, educational opportunities, and overall quality of life for millions. These disparities necessitate targeted interventions and a redoubling of efforts.

Clean Cooking: A Silent Crisis

Access to clean cooking fuels and technologies is progressing slower than anticipated. Over 2 billion people still rely on polluting fuels such as firewood and charcoal. This has a direct and devastating impact on public health, contributing to millions of premature deaths annually due to indoor air pollution. The report underscores the urgency of deploying off-grid clean technologies, like household biogas plants and mini-grids that facilitate electric cooking. This highlights the need for innovative, sustainable solutions to address this silent crisis.

Financing the Future: The Role of International Cooperation

A critical bottleneck impeding progress is insufficient and affordable financing. While international financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy grew to US$21.6 billion in 2023, the overall picture is more nuanced. Much of this increase was driven by debt-based instruments. The report highlights the need for reforms in multilateral and bilateral lending, along with the mobilization of grants and risk mitigation instruments. Stronger international cooperation, particularly between public and private sectors, is paramount to scaling up financial support, especially for sub-Saharan Africa.

Decentralized Solutions: Powering the Underserved

The report shines a spotlight on the potential of decentralized renewable energy solutions, including mini-grids and off-grid solar systems. These technologies offer cost-effective and rapidly scalable ways to reach communities in remote, lower-income areas. They are crucial for expanding **energy access** and promoting sustainable development. They are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) target of universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030.

Looking Ahead: Navigating Uncertainties

The path to universal energy access is paved with challenges. The report serves as a call to action to address urgent global issues. The report calls for strengthened international cooperation, particularly to scale up financial support for developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The report’s recommendations emphasize the importance of appropriate national energy planning and regulations, with the goal of ensuring sustainable energy for all by 2030.

The report’s launch on July 16, 2025 at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York is a pivotal opportunity for world leaders to recommit and take practical steps to overcome these critical issues. It’s time to accelerate the deployment of clean energy solutions. This includes initiatives such as the deployment of decentralized renewable energy systems, and improving international financial flows to developing countries, as the clock ticks towards 2030. The future of global development depends on it.

What strategies do you think will be most effective in accelerating the deployment of clean energy solutions and addressing the energy access gap, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments below!