7. Affordable and clean energy
Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today. Be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes, access to energy for all is essential. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all has come one step closer due to recent progress in electrification, particularly in LDCs, and improvements in industrial energy efficiency. However, national priorities and policy ambitions still need to be strengthened to put the world on track to meet the energy targets for 2030.
Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy is supported by Energy Development Corporation
News
Policy & Finance
Moving ‘green’ Belt and Road from words to action
China’s environmental protection guidelines for overseas projects need stronger support.
Carbon & Climate
Coastal communities bear the brunt of Thailand’s LNG boom
Experts call for tighter regulations as Rayong’s environment and fisherfolk pay the price for country’s shift to ‘transition’ fuel.
As India raises the percentage of ethanol in petrol, car and motorbike owners have taken to social media to complain.
Renewable energy will overtake coal to become the world’s top source of electricity “by 2026 at the latest”, according to new forecasts from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Policy & Finance
High transition risk climate scenarios becoming more probable: GIC
Opinion
Policy & Finance
The scramble for critical minerals
Vast natural-resource endowments have proven to be more of a curse than a blessing, with resource-rich countries often developing more slowly than their resource-poor counterparts. Today, countries rich in critical minerals have a chance to change this – but only if they invest in strengthening their institutional capacity.
As the world shifts towards a cleaner energy future, ensuring energy security while managing the energy transition remains a complex challenge.
Thailand’s Climate Change Act is timely and responsive to public concern, but the current version is a frail gesture addressing a complex problem.
Vietnam’s renewed ambition of developing nuclear power plants to fuel its industrialisation drive – supported by strong elite consensus – faces several obstacles, including an unrealistic timeline and financial challenges.
Policy & Finance
Insurers must promote the blue economy
Videos
Policy & Finance
Navigating uncertainty: AIA’s long-term bet on sustainable investing
In this wide-ranging fireside chat moderated by Eco-Business CEO Jessica Cheam, AIA Group's chief investment officer Dr Mark Konyn asserts there is “no U-turn” among corporates invested for the long term, even as political regimes change amid a new world order.
There is consensus that coal needs to be retired early in Asia, but the mechanisms for financing the phase-out are not clear. This mini-documentary examines how transition credits work and whether they can fund Southeast Asia's equitable switch to clean power.
After 20 years without electricity, more than 50 households in Cebu's poorest district have been provided with solar energy, financed by carbon offsets.
Vietnam's wind market is thriving, but more work lies ahead if the country wants to power its booming economy without imperilling its people and the planet.
Podcasts
Green Buildings
Are our climate targets too weak or too ambitious? Hang Lung Properties’ sustainability chief John Haffner
Having "stretch targets" can spur innovation, says the sustainability chief for one of Hong Kong's largest real estate firms in the latest episode of "On the frontlines". He also shares why the firm has chosen to publish the draft of its net zero plan for open discussion of its climate targets.
Green Buildings
Inaction is not an option for companies in climate-vulnerable nations like India: Lodha ESG chief Aun Abdullah
In the latest episode of 'On the frontlines', the real estate giant's ESG head tells the EB Podcast that while there has been no pushback on climate action by corporate India, questions remain over whether the booming real estate sector is decarbonising fast enough.
The ESG head of the Philippine power company arm tells the EB Podcast that sustainability needs to be communicated not as a “progressive idea” but a business strategy that benefits the bottom line.
Carbon & Climate
Just another cost centre? CLP Power’s Hendrik Rosenthal on justifying sustainability in turbulent times
In the second episode of 'On the frontlines', power firm CLP's group sustainability director Rosenthal talks to the EB Podcast about the challenges of steering sustainability in a carbon-heavy industry, closing coal plants and the need for pragmatism.
