Energy is a central component of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), explicitly reflected in SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. However, the theme of energy cuts across multiple SDGs, demonstrating the interconnectivity of these global goals.
SDG 7's objective is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Energy, in its various forms, is a vital driver of economic growth and is pivotal to nearly all aspects of development. Without a steady and reliable supply of energy, societies can hardly progress. However, millions of people around the world still lack access to modern and clean energy services. The emphasis on "affordable and clean" energy within this goal shows the need to transition from traditional energy sources, often characterized by high environmental costs, to more sustainable ones like wind, solar, and hydropower.
Energy's role is also significant in achieving other SDGs. For example, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, emphasizes the need for sustainable and resilient infrastructure with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean technologies. It is almost impossible to achieve this without a sustainable energy framework. Similarly, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, calls for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and one of its targets (11.6) directly refers to the environmental impact of cities, for which energy is a key factor.
Furthermore, energy is a crucial player in SDG 13: Climate Action. The energy sector represents the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to a sustainable energy future, therefore, is critical for tackling climate change. Efforts to reduce emissions and promote clean energy sources are crucial to mitigate climate change and its impacts.
Climate Crisis, Energy Violence, Mapping Fossil Energy' s Enduring Grasp on Our Precarious Future, 2024, Pages xvii-xlix
This chapter advances Goals 13 and 16 by discussing how the book demonstrates “textbook” cases of energy violence using an empirical approach highlighting (1) spatial and temporal evidence and (2) ecological and societal impacts across global and local scales, including frontline communities.
Gala, D., Khetan, S., & Mehendale, N. (2024). Assessing opportunities for enhanced lighting energy conservation via occupancy and daylight monitoring. Measurement: Energy, 3, 100015.
This article addresses SDGs 7, 12 and 13 by examining responsible energy consumption and automated systems that provide potential efficiencies through lighting optimization.
Advances in Energy from Waste: Transformation Methods, Applications and Limitations Under Sustainability, Woodhead Advances in Pollution Research, 2024, Pages 503-524
Evolution and Trends of Sustainable Approaches: Latest Development and Innovations in Science and Technology Applications, 2024, Pages 209-226
This chapter ties into Sustainable Development Goal 7, Sustainable Development Goal 9, and Sustainable Development Goal 13 by promoting the adoption of green hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source, emphasizing the development of decision support systems for designing hydrogen supply chains which involves innovation and the creation of new infrastructure, and addressing the environmental consequences of conventional energy sources by focusing on green hydrogen as a viable solution to mitigate climate change impacts.
Climate Change and Circular Economics: Human Society as a Closed Thermodynamic System, 2024, Pages 131-165
The content aligns with UN SDG 13 (Climate Action) by analyzing temperature and precipitation data to assess climate change risks, map hazard risks related to floods, droughts, snow, and freezing events, and calculate associated damage, while also indirectly supporting SDG 15 (Life on Land) by evaluating the impact on various regions and ecosystems.
The content of the chapter aligns with UN SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by discussing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy technologies, and address the impact of climate change through the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.
Sustainable Development of Renewable Energy: Latest Advances Production, Storage, and Integration, Advances Renewable Energy Technologies, 2024, Pages 401-412
This chapter aligns with SDGs 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by highlighting the roles of smart grids, renewable energy communities, information, and digitization, requiring technological, research, and political collaboration, in advancing the energy transition.
