•IEA, IRENA, WHO raise concerns over electricity, clean cooking

The progress recorded in bridging energy access has been reversed for the first time in a decade as the rising population outpaced new electricity connections keeping 685 million people without electricity and 2.1 billion without clean cooking.

While the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have expressed concerns over the development, the international public financial flows in support of clean energy in Nigeria and other developing countries rebounded in 2022, moving 25 per cent upward $15.4 billion but a mere half of the 2016 peak of $28.5 billion.

The 2024 edition of Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report, a new report jointly released by the organisations, showed that the world remains off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) seven for energy by 2030.

The report showed that goal seven was to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.

Although in countries like Nigeria, the government is borrowing heavily to power underserved and unserved communities, sub-Saharan African countries still account for 80 per cent of people without energy access, translating to 570 million people.
In countries like Nigeria where most people rely on firewood for cooking amidst rising prices of Liquified Petroleum Gas and high rate of deforestation, the report noted that households spend up to 40 hours a week gathering firewood and cooking, which makes it difficult for women to pursue employment or participate in local decision-making bodies and for children to go to school.

The report, which is expected to be presented to top decision-makers at a special launch event on 15 July at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development blamed the global energy crisis, inflation, growing debt distress in many low-income countries, and increased geopolitical tensions for the decline in energy access.

Executive Director of IEA, Fatih Birol, said achieving Sustainable Development Goal seven needs much more investment in emerging and developing economies to expand access to electricity and clean cooking technologies and fuels.

“Today, only a fraction of total energy investment is going to the countries where the problems of electricity access and clean cooking are critical, not least in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“In addition to climate and environmental benefits, addressing these challenges will bring a range of societal and economic advantages, linked to gender equality, health, education and employment,” Birol said.

Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Francesco La Camera, said while renewables have proven to be a leading player in increasing energy and electricity access through steady expansion of renewable power capacity, distribution disparity remains stark, as reflected in the international public financial flows in support of clean energy.
According to him, the rebound in the flows does indicate a positive signal, but it is nowhere near the needed amount to achieve SDG7.

“This should serve as a strong reminder that not only we are racing against time to reach the goal, but we also still fail the most underserved in the world. There must be a strong sense of urgency from the international community to accelerate investments in renewables infrastructures and sustainable technologies, with a focus on the least developed and developing economies,” La Camera said.

Vice President for Infrastructure, World Bank, Guangzhe Chen said electricity access is essential for development, adding that the world needs to work extra hard for the 685 million people deprived of the resource, which is 10 million more than the year before.

Chen said: “There are solutions to reverse this negative trend, including accelerating the deployment of solar mini-grids and solar home systems. The World Bank is actively working to support this acceleration, and jointly with the African Development Bank we have committed to providing electricity to an additional 300 million people by 2030.”

Director-General, WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, decried that air pollution and energy poverty are claiming lives, inflicting suffering and hindering development. Ghebreyesus said transitioning more rapidly to clean energy and cooking technologies is essential for protecting the health of the 2.1 billion people without access and the health of the planet on which all life depends.