In 2018, SDG7 will be up for its first thematic review at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) of the United Nations. This will serve as a critical milestone to take stock of progress to-date in achieving SDG7 and to reflect on the way forward. This Policy Brief summarises the current state of efforts towards SDG7 and describes major stepping stones in the thematic review of SDG7. It highlights the key challenges and opportunities for achieving universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy.

This Policy Brief finds that progress to-date is not sufficient to achieve the multiple dimensions of SDG7 – incorporating access to electricity and clean fuels, renewable energy and energy efficiency – and to meet internationally agreed climate targets. Since SDG7 is an enabler and prerequisite for the fulfilment of a raft of other Goals, reaching SDG7 will play a central part in the fulfilment of the entire 2030 Agenda. The brief identifies that interlinkages and possible synergies are, as yet, underexplored but will need to be better understood so that progress can be made across all goals linked to SDG7. As such, there is a need for concrete experiences in bringing together communities from different sectors, and in balancing out trade-offs between different Goals.