Energy is key to accelerating sustainable development and to averting ever-worsening climate disasters. Yet, with this year marking the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable  Development, progress on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) – is insufficient and countries are far off-track in meeting energy promises and commitments. Indeed, we are now on our way to failing to reach our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) overall, while the world heads towards climate catastrophe. Meanwhile, the ripple effects of the Ukraine crisis and the aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic also continue to hamper progress. Now must be the time for ambition and action. By taking decisive action and strengthening cooperation at all levels, we can turn the promise of SDG7 into reality. The following actions must therefore be a priority:

• Immediately do what is necessary to provide everyone with access to electricity.
• Mobilize decisive global action towards addressing the issue of clean cooking – an area that has seen only minimal progress in recent years.
• Urgently accelerate just, inclusive and equitable energy transitions, worldwide.
• Triple investment flows for clean energy.
• Dramatically scale-up investment flows to the most vulnerable countries.
• Boost the overall impact of energy action by better capitalizing on the links between SDG7 and other SDGs, as well as the links between the SDG7 targets on energy access, efficiency and renewable energy.
• Invest in transformative partnerships that can rapidly expand progress towards SDG7.
• Prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment by giving the utmost importance to ensuring equal representation of women in energy sector decision-making and the sector’s workforce.
• Strengthen regional cooperation.
• Establish a permanent platform for intergovernmental dialogues on energy at the United Nations, with the strong engagement of business, civil society, youth and other stakeholders.