1.
© UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe
AFFORDABLE AND
If people
CLEAN ENERGY: worldwide
WHY IT MATTERS switched to
What’s the goal here? infrastructure, communica- energy
To ensure access to afford-
able, reliable, sustainable
tions and high-technology.
Conversely, lack of access
to energy supplies and
efficient
and modern energy for all. transformation systems is lightbulbs, the
a constraint to human and
Why? economic development. world would save
$120 billion
Our everyday lives depend
on reliable and afford- I have access to
able energy services to electricity. Why should I
function smoothly and
to develop equitably.
care about this goal? annually
For many decades, fossil
A well-established fuels such as coal, oil or gas
energy system supports have been major sources
all sectors: from busi- of electricity production,
nesses, medicine and but burning carbon fuels
education to agriculture, produces large amounts of
2.
greenhouse gases which The world needs to tri- sourcing 100% of oper-
cause climate change and ple its investment in ational electricity needs
have harmful impacts on sustainable energy infra- from renewable sources.
people’s well-being and structure per year, from
Employers can reduce
the environment. This around $400 billion now
the internal demand
affects everyone, not just to $1.25 trillion by 2030.
for transport by priori-
a few. Moreover, global
Regions with the great- tizing telecommunica-
electricity use is rising rap-
est energy deficits— tions and incentivize less
idly. In a nutshell, without
Sub-Saharan Africa energy intensive modes
a stable electricity supply,
and South Asia—need such as train travel over
countries will not be able
our help to improve auto and air travel.
to power their economies.
energy access. That
Investors can invest more
How many people are includes pushing harder
in sustainable energy
living without electricity? to find clean, efficient,
services, bringing new
and affordable alterna-
Just under 1 billion people technologies to the
tives to health-damag-
of the world’s population market quickly from a
ing cook stoves.
do not have access to diverse supplier base.
electricity. 16 out of 20 What can we do to You can save electricity
countries with the larg- fix these issues? by plugging appliances
est deficits in electricity Countries can acceler- into a power strip and
access are in Africa. ate the transition to an turning them off com-
Without electricity, affordable, reliable, and pletely when not in use,
women and girls have sustainable energy system including your computer.
to spend hours fetching by investing in renewable You can also bike, walk or
water, clinics cannot store energy resources, prior- take public transport to
vaccines for children, itizing energy efficient reduce carbon emissions.
many schoolchildren can- practices, and adopting
To find out more
not do homework at night, clean energy technolo-
about Goal #7 and
and people cannot run gies and infrastructure.
other Sustainable
competitive businesses. Businesses can maintain Development Goals, visit:
The health and well-being and protect ecosystems to
of some 3 billion people http://www.un.org/
be able to use and fur-
are adversely impacted by sustainabledevelopment
ther develop hydropower
the lack of clean cooking sources of electricity and
fuels, such as wood, char- bioenergy, and commit to
coal, dung and coal, which
causes indoor air pollution.
What would it cost
to switch to more
sustainable energy?
+1-315-636-4485
+91 98151-74050 
