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The UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) resulted in the first-ever global roadmap for accelerating Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and the announcement of over 160 Energy Compacts. These voluntary commitments from governments, businesses, and civil society include more than USD 400 billion in new finance and investment to address energy poverty and decarbonize energy systems. The dialogue established specific milestones for 2025 and 2030, including the phase-out of coal and the tripling of global renewable power capacity.

The study analyzes five development scenarios for Kenya's residential cooking sector to quantify GHG emissions, health impacts, and fuel demand. It finds that shifting from 'modern cooking' (LPG and improved biomass stoves) to 'clean cooking' (electric, biogas, and bioethanol) can significantly reduce emissions, with the most ambitious scenario achieving net-zero by mid-century. Implementation of the net-zero scenario could avoid nearly 500,000 premature deaths over 30 years. However, the transition is hindered by high upfront costs, cultural practices like fuel stacking, and the absence of a comprehensive, sector-wide strategy.

The report finds that international public finance for gas in low- and middle-income countries is four times higher than for wind or solar, risking a 'dash for gas' that locks economies into high-carbon pathways. It argues that gas is no longer a necessary 'bridge fuel' because renewables are often cheaper and more effective for power, cooking, and industry. The document recommends that international financial institutions end support for gas and instead scale up clean energy finance, focusing on grid integration, technology transfer, and a just transition for workers.

The report finds that international public finance for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries averaged nearly USD 16 billion per year from 2017 to 2019, which is four times the amount provided for wind or solar. It argues that the 'bridge fuel' concept is obsolete due to the urgency of the climate crisis, methane leakage, and the falling costs of renewables. The document recommends that international public finance institutions end all support for gas exploration, production, and long-lived infrastructure, instead scaling up finance for grid integration, technology transfer, and universal clean energy access. Case studies of Argentina, Egypt, and India illustrate risks such as high subsidies, dependence on volatile export markets, and the creation of redundant parallel infrastructures for gas and electric vehicles.

The report finds that international public finance disproportionately supports natural gas in low- and middle-income countries, often exceeding support for wind and solar by four times. It argues that the 'bridge fuel' narrative is obsolete due to the falling costs of renewables and the risks of stranded assets and methane leaks. The document recommends that international financial institutions cease funding gas infrastructure and instead support clean energy integration, technology transfer, and a just transition, particularly for the poorest nations.

The report finds that international public finance disproportionately supports natural gas over renewables in the Global South, creating risks of stranded assets and carbon lock-in. It argues that renewables are now cost-competitive for most gas uses and recommends that public financial institutions cease support for gas infrastructure to prioritize clean energy transitions.

Based on a survey of over 900 households in Jharkhand, the report finds that LPG subsidies are poorly targeted, with the poorest 40% of households receiving less than 30% of government support in 2018/19. The analysis indicates that poor households may receive two times less in subsidies than better-off consumers due to low consumption of subsidized cylinders among the poor and high consumption among the wealthy. While LPG subsidies per cylinder were effectively removed in May 2020, the report warns that the COVID-19 crisis has increased the need for affordable clean cooking support. The authors conclude there is no 'magic bullet' for improving distribution and suggest that policy-makers consider volumetric targeting to limit expenditure until the causes of low consumption among poor households are addressed.

A coalition of civil society organizations is demanding that the World Bank fulfill promises of a participatory review for its Africa energy strategy. The signatories urge the Bank to prioritize renewable energy and energy access, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, while unequivocally ending financial support for fossil fuel-based development.

The report finds that LPG subsidies in Jharkhand are highly regressive, with wealthier households receiving a disproportionate share of benefits due to their higher consumption levels. Testing of volumetric targeting and differential subsidies for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries failed to significantly improve subsidy incidence, although volumetric limits reduced overall government expenditure. The authors recommend mapping subsidy equity across India and exploring smarter indicators, such as motorbike ownership, to better identify and exclude better-off consumers.

The study examines the impact of clean cooking interventions on fuelwood sourcing in Kullu and Koppal, India, finding that the reduction of forest dependence varies by location and is influenced by demand, resource substitutability, and socio-economic factors.

The study examines energy poverty in Malawi, finding that unconditional social cash transfers significantly increase the likelihood of ultra-poor households owning improved cookstoves and having a source of lighting.

The document argues that gender-blind climate interventions risk deepening inequalities and undermining resilience. It proposes a project cycle that begins with representative stakeholder committees and gender-disaggregated data collection to understand differential vulnerabilities. The guide details tools like 'problem tree' analysis and the 'resilience wheel' to design transformative solutions. It emphasizes the use of SMART and SPICED indicators to track progress, illustrated through five case studies in Cambodia, Tanzania, Malawi, Nigeria, and Ecuador, which demonstrate the 'double win' of achieving both climate goals and gender empowerment.

The report finds that finance for energy access in high-impact countries (HICs) remains critically insufficient. In 2019, tracked electricity finance in HICs fell to USD 32 billion, with residential access funding at less than one-third of the required annual investment. Clean cooking investment has stagnated around USD 130 million annually, far below the USD 4.5 billion needed. While private investment in clean cooking reached a peak of USD 56 million in 2019, multilateral DFI support plummeted. The report emphasizes the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, as seen in Mozambique, and highlights divergent technological paths in Ghana (LPG) and Vietnam (biogas).

The report finds that global investment for energy access is critically insufficient. Finance for electricity in high-impact countries (HICs) fell to USD 32 billion in 2019, while clean cooking commitments stagnated around USD 130 million, far below the USD 4.5 billion annual need. While grid-connected renewables became the top electricity sector in 2019, decentralized solutions remain severely underfunded. The report emphasizes the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, as seen in Mozambique, and explores divergent clean cooking pathways in Ghana (LPG) and Vietnam (biogas).

The report estimates that achieving universal Tier 1 electricity and Tier 4 clean cooking access in Ghana, Mozambique, and Vietnam will cost between USD 38 billion and 48 billion by 2030. It identifies a significant finance gap, noting that current commitments are far below the required levels, particularly for clean cooking. The analysis highlights that while standalone solar is a primary pathway for electricity in rural areas, mini-grids are hindered by regulatory uncertainty. The report recommends a combination of results-based financing, demand-side subsidies, and the removal of fiscal barriers like VAT on solar equipment to bridge the affordability gap for low-income households.

The report finds that energy finance in high-impact countries (HICs) is critically insufficient to meet SDG7 targets. In 2019, tracked electricity finance in HICs fell to USD 32 billion, with residential access funding at only one-third of the required annual investment. Clean cooking investment has stagnated around USD 130 million annually, far below the USD 4.5 billion needed. While there is a positive shift away from fossil fuel electricity generation and an increase in private finance for clean cooking, significant gaps remain, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report advocates for increased climate resilience in infrastructure, the scaling of decentralized energy solutions, and the integration of clean cooking into national climate policies and NDCs.

The SEforALL 2021-2023 business plan focuses on achieving SDG7 through a framework of 'COMMIT, CONNECT, CREATE' to drive energy transitions and access. The strategy emphasizes data-driven implementation, interdisciplinary integration between public and private sectors, and the mobilization of finance flows to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all.

The document analyzes Ghana's progress toward SDG7, noting that while electricity access is on track to reach 97% by 2030 under business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios, clean cooking access remains low. Achieving universal Tier 1 electricity access requires an additional USD 22 million, whereas universal Tier 4 clean cooking access requires between USD 10 billion and USD 13 billion. Key barriers include customer affordability, last-mile delivery challenges, and limited private sector finance for local energy enterprises.

Vietnam faces a funding gap to reach universal clean cooking by 2030, with an estimated 5.9 to 13.7 million households likely to remain without access under business-as-usual scenarios. Achieving Tier 4 access (clean fuels like LPG, ethanol, and electric cooking) would require USD 19-22 billion, while universal access to Tier 2/Tier 3 improved cookstoves (ICS) requires USD 183 million. Key barriers include limited private sector finance for ICS enterprises, high distribution costs for last-mile delivery to ethnic minorities, and affordability gaps for approximately 1.3 million households. The document recommends expanding consumer finance, creating a national carbon credit scheme, and providing USD 143 million in private sector finance for ICS.

SEforALL's 100 Days Report details its leadership in planning the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26, its research on chronic underinvestment in energy finance, and its country-level support for energy access and COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Africa and South Asia.