One of the most important pursuits of Sustainable Development Goals is to meet the needs of present generations without compromising future ones or depriving them of a clean world and healthy societies. This is exactly what the Seventh Sustainable Development Goal is about, aiming to provide clean, affordable, and renewable energy that most countries can benefit from.

What is the Concept of Clean Energy?

Clean and sustainable energy is renewable and inexhaustible energy and has no harm to the environment. Unlike most current energy sources such as fossil fuels and gas that are vulnerable to future drainage.
The most common resources of clean energy are water, wind, and solar power, and some countries are trying to extract clean energy from the ground.[1]

Why is Affordable and Clean Energy one of the Sustainable Development Goals?

Many people, as well as countries, think that clean energy is nothing but a waste of money and resources and that the future generations’ problems don’t concern us. That is why it is necessary to shine a light on the importance of providing clean energy, as it wasn’t in vain to be a goal of Sustainable Development.

1 in 7 people lack electricity, and most of them live in rural areas in developing countries. Energy is the main contributor to climate change, it produces around 60% of greenhouse gases. While more efficient energy standards can reduce building and industry electricity consumption by 14%. Also more than 40% of the world’s population -3 billion- rely on polluting and unhealthy fuels for cooking. The renewable energy sector employed a record of 10.3 million people in 2017. In addition, since 1990, global emissions of CO2 have increased by more than 46%. [2]
These numbers are enough to show the importance of clean energy and why it is one of the Sustainable Development Goals, as it is not only a problem of future generations but ours too.

As explained, current energy sources are one of the most important causes of climate change; such as global warming, caused by gas emissions resulting from the extraction and use of non-renewable energy. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, clean energy will help by creating more job opportunities and reducing energy consumption. So, it is safe to say that the world’s trend towards clean energy sources will have positive effects at all levels.

What are the targets of the 7th Sustainable Development Goal?

Under this goal there are five sub-targets that we all hope to achieve:

• By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
• By 2030, increase substantially the percentage of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
• By 2030, expand the infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programs of support. [3]

Also read: Sustainable Development Goal 6.

What is being done to achieve Clean Energy?

Despite having a long way to go to achieve all the previously mentioned targets, no one can deny the efforts made so far around the world to achieve clean energy.
The world is making much progress towards the 7th goal, with encouraging signs that energy is more sustainable and widely available.
As of 2015, more than 20% of power has been generated by renewable energy sources. Governments around the world are committed to providing electricity to more than 166 million people worldwide, and private companies have committed to reaching over 200 million people. In addition, governments committing to generate an additional 689 gigawatts(GW) of renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower.

Power utility companies undertook to generate an additional 823 GW, all by 2030. Across the Arab world, the UAE has committed to providing 100% of its population with electricity and primary reliance on clean fuels for cooking by 2030. The State has also undertaken to generate 2.5 GW of solar power in the construction sector by 2030. [4]

All these commitments are promising to achieve a clean energy world if implemented, which most developing countries seek. There will always be sunshine, fresh wind, and heavy rain, so let us take advantage of what nature has given us, and turn our planet into a clean and safe place for us and for generations to come.

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.