Although the world has been undergoing a transformation of energy systems at an unprecedented scale, the severe international health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic reveals weaknesses in these systems says a new collection of policy briefs compiled by the multi-stakeholder SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7-TAG) and convened by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Failure to transition quickly to more accessible, affordable and sustainable energy systems will perpetuate these weaknesses, while also jeopardising the fight against climate change and threatening human well-being, ecosystems and economies for centuries. Therefore, the world needs to maintain a high level of determination and unity against climate change even as it continues mobilizing against the pandemic.
The briefs in the compilation, “Policy Briefs in support of the High-Level Political Forum 2020: Accelerating SDG 7 Achievement in the time of COVID-19,” focus on supporting the discussions at this year’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the theme of “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.” This stock-taking report presents detailed recommendations and scenarios for energy policies that can simultaneously address the SDG goals, the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also aims to inform relevant discussions in support of the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs, the implementation of the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014-2024 and other related processes.
The COVID-19 pandemic could seriously disrupt progress towards providing electricity for the nearly 800 million people currently without access. Low-income consumers are struggling to pay their electricity bills due to the worsening economic conditions, and many are facing potential disconnection. In addition, utilities are already under financial strain and may struggle to provide basic services. Urgent, large-scale efforts are required to expand electricity access for health facilities to address COVID-19 emergencies, since around 1 billion people are currently relying on health facilities without electricity.
The COVID-19 pandemic could cause additional disease risks for women and children who are already exposed to household air pollution caused by cooking smoke. About 2.8 billion people still depend on burning polluting fuels for cooking.
While global energy demand is projected to drop by 6% in 2020 due to the pandemic, the growth of electricity generation from renewables appears to be holding up. However, supply chain disruptions, construction delays and macroeconomic challenges increase uncertainty about the total amount of renewable capacity growth that will occur in 2020 and 2021. The year 2020 is set to see the largest decline in energy investment on record, a reduction of 20% – or almost US$ 400 billion – in capital spending compared with 2019. Investment in renewable power projects is expected to fall by around 10% for this year.
While the direct implications of the COVID-19 crisis on energy efficiency are yet to be fully grasped, low oil prices might make some energy efficiency measures less attractive and commercially feasible. This would quickly slow down efforts towards decarbonisation. Short-term fixes to revive economic growth might result in a decline in investments in energy efficiency. This would slow down progress on efficiency at a time when a rapid increase is needed. Meeting the SDG 7 target on energy efficiency requires accelerated improvement at a rate of 3% per year on average between 2017 and 2030, compared with 2.2% per year on average during the period 2010 to 2017. The pandemic could either widen the existing sustainable energy access gaps or accelerate the path towards achieving SDG 7, depending on the priorities of national recovery efforts. Sustainable energy should play a central role in countries’ efforts to recover from the COVID-19 crisis in ways that make them better and stronger. “Investing in decarbonised energy solutions that support universal energy access can create jobs, make economies more competitive and steer the world towards a more resilient and sustainable future,” said Liu Zehnmin, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “In addition, energy is strongly interlinked with progress on other Sustainable Development Goals. Many of those goals will also be in jeopardy without increased access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services – especially the ones related to poverty eradication, gender equality, food security, health, education, clean water and sanitation, jobs, innovation, and transport.” Sheila Oparaocha, Executive Director of the ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy and co-facilitator of the SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group, said: “With only ten years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, this year marks the start of a dedicated Decade of Action to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. We must focus on the COVID-19 crisis, which is threatening to undermine the momentum of the clean energy transformation and universal energy access. We cannot let that happen. Energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency investments need to be at the centre of the economic recovery packages, ensuring sustainability, energy security, and a just and inclusive energy transition, to leave no one behind.” Hans Olav Ibrekk, Policy Director, Section for Energy and Climate Change at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sustainable Energy and co-facilitator of the SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group, added: “We are proud to present this third compilation of SDG 7 Policy Briefs, which has been prepared to inform critically important discussions at this year’s High-Level Political Forum. We sincerely hope that Member States and all stakeholders—including international organisations, multilateral development banks, businesses and civil society groups—will find the analysis and recommendations in the Policy Briefs useful as they review and renew their commitments to achievement of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.” Furthermore, the United Nations Secretary-General will convene a High-Level Dialogue on Energy at a summit level during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2021 in New York, to accelerate SDG 7 action for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Key findings/messages from the report: • Although the world continues to advance toward achieving the SDG 7, overall efforts are falling well short of the scale required to reach the SDG 7 targets by 2030. • Post COVID-19 recovery strategies present opportunities for economies to become greener and more resilient based on the SDG 7 targets. • Investments in sustainable energy solutions are needed to protect SDG gains during the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall financing for SDG 7 will need to more than double globally, to US$ 1.3 to 1.4 trillion per year. • Despite supply chain disruptions, solar PV and wind are on track to help lift renewable electricity generation by 5% in 2020. • As financing for SDG 7 remains uneven, special attention is needed for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. • Ending energy poverty in Least Developed Countries will require a radical change of pace and massive investment in the next few years. • It is essential to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment into all energy actions to advance the SDGs. Background on the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014-2024: In 2012, the General Assembly unanimously approved resolution 67/215, by which it declared the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All 2014–2024, underscoring the importance of energy issues for sustainable development. The General Assembly called for the rapid implementation of the strategic objectives of the global plan of action for the Decade, including in resolution 72/224. More recently, through resolution A/73/236 on “Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, the General Assembly invited “the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to convene dialogues, which could consist of a series of events including discussions among energy policy makers and other multi-stakeholders in 2019 to be supported by the Secretariat, in order to discuss the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, including the global plan of action for the Decade as described in the report of the Secretary-General.” Further Information: The full report, Policy Briefs in support of the High-Level Political Forum 2020: Accelerating SDG 7 Achievement in the time of COVID-19, can be downloaded here
