Energy SDG confirmed as UN Member States agree on outcome document

New York, 3 August 2015 – A Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on energy as a stand-alone issue has been agreed by UN Member States as part of the post-2015 development agenda to be adopted next month by world leaders. The 193 Member States of the United Nations reached agreement late on 2 August on the outcome document that will constitute the new sustainable development agenda to be adopted at the Sustainable Development Summit on 25-27 September in New York. The document includes SDG number 7: “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.” It includes the following targets:

• 7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
• 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
• 7.a 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
• 7.b By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, and small island developing States

The goal and targets as confirmed are consistent with SEforALL´s objectives on energy access, efficiency and renewable energy. Thousands of SEforALL partners from all regions and sectors are already geared up to support implementation of the energy SDG in the crucial decades to come. The outcome document concludes a negotiating process that has spanned more than two years and featured unprecedented participation of civil society. For more details, see the UN press release and the finalised text for adoption.