WORLD-GEN June/July 2018

WORLD-GENERATION JUNE/JULY 2018 17 PERSPECTIVE by 2030, with modern renewables growing to 15%, falling short of the substantial increase demanded by the SDG7 target. Rapidly falling costs have allowed solar and wind to compete with conven- tional power generation sources in multi- ple regions, driving the growth in the share of renewables in electricity to 22.8% in 2015. But electricity accounted for only 20% of total final energy consumption that year, highlighting the need to accelerate progress in transport and heating. The share of renewable energy in transport is rising quite rapidly, but from a very low base, amounting to only 2.8% in 2015. The use of renewable energy for heating purposes has barely increased in recent years and stood at 24.8% in 2015, of which one third was from modern uses. Since 2010, China’s progress in renew- able energy alone accounted for nearly 30% of absolute growth in renewable ener- gy consumption globally in 2015. Brazil was the only country among the top 20 largest energy consumers to substantially exceed the global average renewable share in all end uses: electricity, transport and heating. The UK’s share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption grew by 1% annually on average since 2010 – more than five times the global average. FIVE AGENCIES The Energy Progress Report is a joint effort of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO). “It is clear that the energy sector must be at the heart of any effort to lead the world on a more sustainable pathway,” said Dr Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). “There is an urgent need for action on all technologies, especially on renewables and energy efficiency, which are key for delivering on three criti- cal goals – energy access, climate mitiga- tion and lower air pollution. The IEA is committed to leading this agenda and working with counties around the world to support clean energy transitions.”  “Falling costs, technological improve- ments and enabling frameworks are fuel- ing an unprecedented growth of renew- able energy, which is expanding energy access, improving health outcomes, and helping to tackle climate change, while also creating jobs and powering sustain- able economic growth,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “At the same time, this tracking report is an important signal that we must be more ambitious in harnessing the power of renewable energy to meet sustainable development and climate goals, and take more deliberate action to achieve a sus- tainable energy future.” “This detailed report describing the progress so far on SDG7 is a testament to the collaboration of the five international agencies on providing quality and compre- hensive data and delivering a common message regarding the progress towards ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” said Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the Statistics Division of UN DESA. “Still, there is a need for improving statistical systems that collect energy information in those countries where the most pressing energy issues remain to be addressed. Better data are needed to inform policy accurately, particularly developing coun- tries, least developed countries, land- locked developing countries, and small island developing States. For this, invest- ments in energy statistical systems are essential.” “The experience of countries that have substantially increased the number of people with electricity in a short space of time holds out real hope that we can reach the billion people who still live with- out power,” said Riccardo Puliti, Senior Director for Energy and Extractives at the World Bank. “We know that with the right policies, a commitment to both on-grid and off-grid solutions, well-tailored financ- ing structures, and mobilization of the pri- vate sector, huge gains can be made in only a few years. This in turn is having real, positive impacts on the development prospects and quality of life for millions of people.” “It is unacceptable that in 2018, 3 bil- lion people still breathe deadly smoke every day from cooking with polluting fuels and stoves. Every year, household air pollution kills around 4 million people from diseases including pneumonia, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and cancer,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, at the World Health Organization (WHO). “By expanding access to clean affordable household ener- gy, the global community has the power to lift a terrible health burden from millions of marginalized people – in particular women and young children who face the greatest health risks from household air pollution.” “As we take stock of progress towards the global goal on sustainable energy, this latest data clearly shows more action and political leadership is needed if we are to live up to our promise to leave no one behind,” said Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All. “To meet 2030 targets, we must make every unit of energy work harder. We need to increase investment in the technologies and business models that make electricity access affordable for everyone, place even bigger bets on the remarkable capacity of renewable energy and build big markets for clean fuels and cooking access. World leaders put the promise of leaving no one behind at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals, and now is the time for that prom- ise to become reality.” The report was formerly known as the Global Tracking Framework (GTF). TRACKING SDG7 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12