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.
Technological Pathways for Africa' s Net-Zero Economy, Technology Solutions to Unlock Africa's Sustainable Future, 2025, Pages 139-157
This chapter aligns with SDG Goals 7, 11, and 13 by exploring the significance of international partnerships and collaborations in promoting innovation and expanding renewable energy initiatives in Africa. It offers pragmatic suggestions for incorporating renewable energy alternatives into Africa's development agenda.
Encyclopedia of Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Volume 1, 2024, Pages 497-508
This chapter relates to the energy transition and renewable fuels for global energy demands. UN SDG Goal 7
Nanoclay-Based Sustainable Materials: Functional Properties, Characterization, and Multifaceted Applications, Volume , 1 January 2024
Climate Crisis, Energy Violence, Mapping Fossil Energy' s Enduring Grasp on Our Precarious Future, 2024, Pages 231-263
This content alignts with Goals 10, 16, and 13 by discussing how Indigenous communities resist oil fascism and decolonize relationships through collective worldmaking, healing, and allyship based in an ethos of collective responsibility.
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.
Smart City Assessment, A Novel Framework for Development and Evaluation of Smart Cities, 2024, Pages 135-184
This chapter aligns with SDG Goals 7, 11, and 13 by discussing the challenges and opportunities in integrating renewable energy, ensuring infrastructure resilience, addressing data privacy, and bridging the digital divide.
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.
