SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy for Everyone
Energy powers many parts of everyday life, from lighting homes and heating buildings to running hospitals, schools, transport and businesses. Yet access to reliable, affordable and modern energy remains unequal. At the same time, the way energy is produced and used is a major contributor to climate change and air pollution.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) aims to address these challenges. Its central promise is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The goal recognises that expanding energy access must go hand in hand with a transition towards cleaner, more efficient sources of power.
What does SDG 7 aim to achieve?
SDG 7 sets out several ambitions for 2030. These include:
- Ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
- Increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Improving the rate at which energy is used efficiently.
- Strengthening international cooperation on clean-energy research and technology.
- Expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology so that more people can access sustainable energy, particularly in developing countries.
Why is affordable energy important?
Access to electricity can support education, healthcare, communication and economic opportunity. Reliable power enables schools to use digital learning tools, helps health facilities store medicines and operate essential equipment, and allows businesses to work more effectively. Clean cooking solutions can also reduce exposure to harmful household air pollution and ease the time burden of collecting fuel.
Affordability matters as much as access. If energy costs take up too much of a household’s income, people may be forced to limit heating, lighting or cooking. Ensuring that energy is reasonably priced helps protect living standards and makes it easier for communities to benefit from modern services.
The role of renewable energy
Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind, water and geothermal heat. Expanding these sources can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy can also improve energy security by diversifying supply and, in some settings, bringing electricity to remote communities through local or off-grid systems.
However, a successful transition requires more than installing renewable-energy equipment. Electricity networks, energy storage, skilled workers, fair planning and investment are all important. Communities must also be involved in decisions about new projects, with attention paid to their rights, livelihoods and local environments.
Energy efficiency: using less to achieve more
Energy efficiency means reducing the energy needed to provide the same service. Better-insulated buildings, efficient appliances, modern industrial equipment and well-designed public transport can all help. Improving efficiency can lower bills, reduce pressure on energy supplies and limit pollution.
Governments, businesses and households each have a part to play. Building standards and public investment can encourage efficient infrastructure, while organisations can improve how they manage energy. Individuals may be able to reduce waste by choosing efficient products and making homes more energy-conscious, where suitable options are available.
Challenges to achieving SDG 7
Progress is held back by poverty, conflict, limited infrastructure and a lack of finance. Remote communities can be expensive to connect to national electricity grids, while households may not be able to afford connection fees or clean technologies. In some regions, unreliable power supplies also make it difficult to maintain essential services and support local businesses.
The transition must be fair as well as fast. Workers and communities whose livelihoods depend on high-emission industries may need support, training and new employment opportunities. Clean-energy investment should also reach people who are often underserved, rather than benefiting only wealthier households or larger urban areas.
How SDG 7 connects to other goals
Affordable and clean energy supports progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. It can contribute to better health, quality education, decent work and stronger communities. It is also closely linked to climate action: cutting emissions from energy is essential to addressing climate change, while resilient energy systems can help communities cope with extreme weather and other disruptions.
Moving towards a clean-energy future
Achieving SDG 7 calls for sustained action by governments, businesses, communities and international partners. Priorities include extending access to reliable electricity and clean cooking, investing in renewable energy and efficient infrastructure, supporting innovation, and making sure that the benefits of the transition are shared fairly.
Affordable, reliable and clean energy is not only a technical challenge. It is also a matter of health, opportunity and fairness. Progress on SDG 7 can help create a future in which everyone can access the energy they need without compromising the wellbeing of people or the planet.
9 Practical Tips to Support SDG Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Switch off lights when you leave a room.
- Choose energy-efficient appliances.
- Use LED bulbs to cut electricity use.
- Insulate your home to reduce heat loss.
- Walk, cycle or use public transport when possible.
- Consider installing solar panels.
- Support policies that expand clean energy.
- Choose a renewable electricity tariff.
- Share practical energy-saving tips with others.
Switch off lights when you leave a room.
Switching off lights when you leave a room is a simple way to reduce electricity use and avoid wasting energy. Although one light may seem insignificant, making this a daily habit at home, school or work can add up over time, helping to lower energy bills and reduce demand on power supplies. It is a small, practical step towards SDG 7: ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for everyone.
Choose energy-efficient appliances.
Choosing energy-efficient appliances is a simple way to support SDG 7 and reduce household energy use. When replacing an appliance, check its energy rating and compare how much electricity it is expected to use. More efficient models can help lower energy bills and reduce demand on power supplies, while still providing the service you need. For the greatest benefit, use appliances wisely too—for example, wash full loads and switch devices off when they are not in use.
Use LED bulbs to cut electricity use.
Switching to LED bulbs is a simple way to support SDG 7 and reduce electricity use at home. LEDs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light and generally last longer, helping to lower both electricity bills and the need for frequent replacements. Replace bulbs as they wear out, choosing a brightness and colour that suits each room.
Insulate your home to reduce heat loss.
Insulating your home is a simple way to reduce heat loss and use energy more efficiently. Loft, roof and wall insulation, along with draught-proofing around doors and windows, can help keep warmth inside during colder months. This can make your home more comfortable and may reduce the energy needed for heating, lowering bills and helping cut greenhouse gas emissions. For the best results, choose insulation suited to your home and ensure it is fitted and ventilated appropriately.
Walk, cycle or use public transport when possible.
Whenever possible, walk, cycle or use public transport instead of travelling by car. These choices can reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, while also helping to cut air pollution and traffic. Walking and cycling bring health benefits too, and choosing buses or trains can make better use of energy by carrying many people on a single journey. Even small changes to everyday travel can support cleaner, more sustainable communities and contribute to SDG 7.
Consider installing solar panels.
Consider installing solar panels to generate clean electricity from sunlight and reduce your reliance on energy from fossil fuels. They may also help lower your electricity bills over time, although savings depend on factors such as your location, roof, energy use and installation costs. Before deciding, compare quotes, check whether your roof is suitable and look into any grants, export payments or other support available in your area.
Support policies that expand clean energy.
Supporting policies that expand clean energy can help make affordable, reliable and sustainable power available to more people. Governments can encourage this transition by investing in renewable energy, improving electricity networks, setting clear efficiency standards and offering fair incentives for cleaner technologies. Public support for well-designed policies also helps create certainty for businesses and communities, while ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach people who might otherwise be left behind.
Choose a renewable electricity tariff.
Choosing a renewable electricity tariff is a practical way to support the transition to cleaner energy. These tariffs are designed to match your electricity use with power from renewable sources, such as wind, solar or hydro, helping to increase demand for low-carbon energy. Before switching, compare prices, check how the supplier supports renewable generation, and read the tariff’s terms to make sure it suits your needs. Availability and the way renewable electricity is supplied can vary, but choosing a well-evidenced green tariff can help you make a more sustainable household choice in support of SDG 7: affordable and clean energy.
Share practical energy-saving tips with others.
Share practical energy-saving tips with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to help make everyday habits more sustainable. Simple steps—such as switching off lights and appliances when they are not in use, washing clothes at lower temperatures and choosing energy-efficient bulbs—can reduce energy use and may help lower bills. Sharing advice that is easy to follow encourages more people to take part and supports SDG 7’s aim of making energy more affordable and sustainable for everyone.