Goal 7 of 17
Affordable and clean energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
What this goal is about
Goal 7 is about energy that people can get, can pay for and can count on, produced in ways that do not wreck the climate. It covers electricity in homes, clinics and workshops, clean fuels for cooking, a bigger share of renewables and using energy more efficiently.
The world has made steady progress on electricity: 92% of people had access in 2024. But 655 million still did not, and around one in four people still cooked with fuels that pollute the air inside their homes.
Energy sits underneath almost every other goal. Without it, cold chains fail, schools close at dusk and small firms cannot run machines. How energy is produced also matters for the climate, because burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases.
The main targets
By 2030, everyone has access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services, including electricity and clean cooking.
By 2030, raise the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix substantially.
By 2030, double the global rate at which energy efficiency improves.
Work together internationally on clean energy research and technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean technology.
Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for modern, sustainable energy in developing countries, especially the least developed, small island and landlocked states.
Summaries in plain English. The full wording of every target and indicator is on the UN Goal 7 page.
What businesses can do
- Measure what you use. Read your meters and bills monthly and note which sites, machines or hours use the most. You cannot cut what you have not measured.
- Fix the cheap things first. LED lighting, timers, sensible air-conditioning set points and maintenance of motors and compressors usually pay back faster than new equipment.
- Look at on-site or contracted renewables. Rooftop solar or a renewable power contract can lower costs and emissions. Check local rules, roof condition and payback before signing.
- Ask suppliers about energy. Add energy and emissions questions to supplier reviews, and prefer efficient equipment when you replace it.
- Build products that save energy. If you make software or devices, design them to run efficiently and help customers see and cut their own use.
What you can do
- Switch off and right-size. Turn off devices at the wall, use fans before air-conditioning where it is safe and comfortable, and pick efficient appliances when you replace old ones.
- Learn how your home uses power. Read the meter with your family for a week and see which appliances matter most. It is a simple, useful science project.
- Join or start a school energy check. With a teacher, walk the school after hours, list lights and devices left on and suggest small fixes.
- Explore energy careers. Electricians, solar installers, engineers, data analysts and policy researchers all work on this goal. Renewables employed about 16.6 million people in 2024.
Software helps on Goal 7 where it improves planning and operations. Open geospatial tools such as OnSSET, used by the World Bank's Global Electrification Platform, estimate the cheapest way to connect each settlement. Smart meters and building controls show where energy is wasted, and better forecasting helps grids take more wind and solar. The IEA estimates AI-based building optimisation could save around 300 TWh. Limits are real: data centres themselves used about 415 TWh in 2024, and software cannot replace wires, panels or finance.
Sources
- UN DESA, Goal 7 targets and indicators
- United Nations, Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
- United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026: Goal 7
- IEA, Energy and AI: executive summary
- IEA, COP28: tracking the energy outcomes
- IRENA and ILO, Renewable energy and jobs: annual review 2025
- World Bank, The Global Electrification Platform 3.0
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