The World Health Organization (WHO) says 655 million people remain “still in the dark” without electricity, according to the latest Tracking SDG 7 Energy Progress Report.
The report also revealed that two billion people worldwide continue to rely on polluting cooking fuels, highlighting persistent challenges in achieving universal access to modern and clean energy services.
A statement released on Wednesday said the world would miss universal energy access by 2030 at the current pace, unless governments, development partners and investors urgently accelerate efforts across underserved regions worldwide.
According to the report, Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden, with 560 million people lacking electricity and 970 million without clean cooking solutions, in spite of advances in renewable energy deployment globally.
The report said that population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa continued to outpace new energy connections, widening access gaps and undermining progress toward achieving universal energy access targets within the decade.
“Progress has slowed when speed matters most. Global electricity access stagnated at 92 per cent in 2024 and annual growth halved from the last decade.
“Financing gaps, high connection costs, and energy security shocks now threaten to leave the poorest communities behind,” the report stated, warning of widening inequalities in access to modern energy services.
The report said that as energy security and affordability dominate development agendas worldwide, electrification rates must triple to achieve SDG 7 targets and prevent millions from being left behind.
It warned that without faster implementation of energy access initiatives, hundreds of millions of people would remain without electricity when the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline arrived across regions.
In spite of ongoing challenges, the report highlighted strong momentum in renewable energy development, noting that renewable sources were playing an increasingly significant role in meeting global electricity demand sustainably.
“Renewables now supply more than 30 per cent of global electricity consumption, and generating capacity reached a record 544 watts per person, enough to power basic appliances like refrigerators in many homes.
“International public financial flows supporting clean energy in developing countries increased slightly to 24.6 billion dollars in 2024.
“However, flows remain insufficient, and debt-based financing still dominates at about 80 per cent of total support,” the report stated, highlighting persistent funding challenges facing developing economies globally.
The report quoted Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, as saying that access to modern energy begins with clean cooking and reliable electricity services.
It added that Birol noted that about 800 million people gained electricity access since 2010, demonstrating that substantial progress remained achievable through appropriate policies, investment and sustained political commitment.
“Energy efficiency improvements continued but fell short.
“Global progress slowed from 2.4 per cent in 2022 to 1.5 per cent in 2023, well below the pace needed to meet SDG 7 targets and reduce both costs and emissions effectively,” Birol said.
According to the report, Mr Francesco Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said recent global energy shocks underscored the importance of strong renewable energy capacity.
The report said Camera urged stakeholders to prioritise affordable financing for least-developed countries facing significant barriers to expanding energy access and building resilient energy systems nationwide.
“The report projects that without scaled-up action, SDG 7 will be missed by 2030. Energy security risks, market volatility, and financing gaps threaten to widen disparities between high-income and low-income countries.
“Distributed renewable energy solutions are proving critical.
“Off-grid solar and mini-grids deliver cost-effective electricity to remote areas, already serving hundreds of millions who remain beyond the reach of centralised grid infrastructure and investment.
“Clean cooking solutions are gaining traction but remain the largest energy access gap.
“Electric cooking, bioethanol, and biogas are expanding, yet 1.8 billion people could still rely on charcoal, wood, and kerosene by 2030,” Camera stated.
According to the report, Camera said affordability remains the principal obstacle to energy access, as connection fees, wiring costs and tariffs continue excluding many low-income households from electricity services.
The statement quoted Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, as saying that progress had been recorded, although disparities remain substantial.
It said Junhua stressed that the global energy crisis presents an opportunity to accelerate clean energy transitions while addressing persistent inequalities affecting developing countries and vulnerable populations.
“Public flows to least developed countries dropped 11 per cent to 3.7 billion dollars in 2024, even as the cost of debt creates economic strain across developing economies.
“Rural populations face growing deficits. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rural electricity gap expanded from 376 million in 2010 to 447 million in 2024, highlighting the need for decentralised solutions beyond grid extension,” Junhua said.
The statement also quoted Ms. Valerie Levkov, Vice President of the World Bank, as saying energy security and affordability would remain defining global development challenges.
According to the report, Levkov emphasised the importance of mobilising private-sector investment alongside public funding to deliver reliable electricity services to communities that need them most urgently.
“Health impacts intensify the urgency. Household air pollution from cooking fuels causes about three million deaths per year, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and displaced populations who spend hours collecting fuel,” she said.
“Universal access to clean energy is a fundamental health imperative.
“He linked clean cooking transitions to gender equality, climate action, and reduced household costs,” the report quoted Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, as saying.
According to the report, Ghebreyesus said significant disparities persist in renewable energy capacity, limiting the ability of low-income countries to develop resilient and sustainable energy systems.
“High-income countries reached 1,224 watts of renewable capacity per person, compared to just 33.6 watts per person in low-income countries, limiting their ability to build resilient systems.
“Stronger political leadership and cross-sector coordination are now cross-cutting priorities. Clear policy signals, sustained implementation, and focus on at-risk countries are essential to diversify energy mixes before 2030.
“The urban-rural divide in clean cooking remains stark. While 89 per cent of urban populations have access, only 56 per cent of rural populations do, requiring targeted programmes that address logistics and affordability barriers,” he said.
According to Ghebreyesus, debt-based financing accounted for 80 per cent of clean energy flows in 2024, while grants represented only 13 per cent of total financial support.
“Equity and risk guarantees stayed marginal at 2 per cent and 5 per cent, limiting options for high-risk markets.
“Renewable energy in heat and transport sectors lags behind power. Expanding renewables beyond electricity is critical for full decarbonisation and for improving energy security across all end-use sectors.
“The full report will be presented July 8 at a special inauguration following the High-Level Political Forum review of SDG 7 in New York, where leaders must commit to urgent, scaled action for universal access,” he added.
