Ambitious action is needed to achieve the sustainable energy goals by 2030 

23 February 2018 – Bangkok, Thailand – Remarkable progress has been made in broadening electricity access globally, however sustained political will and increased public and private finance are urgently needed to provide affordable and clean energy by 2030 to the 1.2 billion people who do not have access to electricity, The Global SDG7 Conference concluded. Recognizing the importance of energy for development, The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) includes targets for access, renewables and energy efficiency.

In her opening statement, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Dr. Shamshad Akhtar underlined that while great progress has been made in improving energy access access, continued commitment is needed as Asia-Pacific remains the most energy intensive region in the world. 

Mr. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, stressed that achieving SDG7 on energy can unlock vast potential for economic growth in all regions and for all people, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Global SDG7 Conference was co-organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Ministry of Energy, The outcomes of the conference provide input for the the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development scheduled for July 2018 in New York.