Search Climate Insights Directory

The 2026 Energy Progress Report reveals that the world is off track for all SDG7 targets by 2030. While Asia has made significant strides in electricity and clean cooking access, Africa's progress is stagnating or regressing due to a 'population trap' where demographic growth outpaces new connections. Renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements are slowing, with global progress heavily dependent on a small number of high-consuming economies. The report calls for a massive scale-up in finance and targeted infrastructure investments to prevent millions from remaining without basic energy services.

The report finds that while progress continues, momentum is fading across all SDG7 indicators. Electricity and clean cooking deficits are increasingly concentrated in Africa, where population growth often offsets gains in access. Renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements are too slow to meet 2030 targets, with global progress heavily dependent on a small number of high-consuming economies and significant investment gaps in developing nations.

The methodology establishes a framework for the 'integrated replacement' of fossil-fuel generators (such as diesel or natural gas gensets and mini-grids) with greenfield renewable energy systems (RES), including solar PV, wind, and hydro. It mandates the permanent decommissioning of the baseline system and the implementation of a Just Transition Plan to protect affected workers and consumers. Emission reductions are calculated by comparing the RES output against a baseline of historical or default fossil fuel emissions, adjusted downward over time via a Downward Adjustment Factor (DAF) to align with national Net Zero trajectories. The framework includes detailed requirements for demonstrating additionality, accounting for embodied emissions from RES manufacturing, and managing reversal risks if the RES fails. A voluntary annex also allows for the quantification of avoided black carbon and PM2.5 emissions.

The report finds that the world is off-track to meet all SDG7 targets by 2030. While electricity access has improved, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 85% of the remaining deficit. Clean cooking access is severely lagging, with 2.1 billion people lacking access. Renewable energy shares in total final energy consumption are stagnating, and energy intensity improvements are insufficient, requiring a 4% annual increase to meet goals.

Industrial decarbonisation is essential for the global energy transition, as the sector accounts for 37% of total final energy use and one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. While advanced economies have decoupled growth from emissions, emerging economies are seeing surges due to the relocation of heavy industries. The paper highlights that for emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), the transition is a business opportunity to leapfrog to sustainable technologies, avoid stranded assets, and enhance competitiveness against mechanisms like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). However, significant bottlenecks exist, including high capital costs and limited access to critical technologies like hydrogen-based steelmaking and carbon capture. The authors propose a global partnership framework based on four pillars: technology transfer, finance mobilisation, policy alignment, and capacity building, suggesting the Climate Club as a potential governance platform.

The G20 has transitioned from a narrow focus on financial stability (2005–2008) to an integrated governance model where energy security, climate action, and sustainable development are central. Key milestones include the 2009 Pittsburgh Summit's first mention of clean energy, the 2015 first Energy Ministers' Meeting, and the recent sequence of Global South presidencies (Indonesia, India, Brazil, South Africa) that have shifted the narrative toward equity, just transitions, and the reform of the international financial architecture. South Africa's 2025 Presidency specifically champions African interconnectivity, critical minerals sovereignty, and debt sustainability to enable a just energy transition.

The report advocates for 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) as a mechanism to ensure a just energy transition. By requiring corporations to match their electricity consumption with carbon-free generation on an hourly and local basis, 24/7 CFE incentivizes a diverse portfolio of energy resources beyond just wind and solar, including next-generation 'clean firm' technologies. This approach is presented as a way to create high-quality, permanent jobs for dislocated fossil fuel workers, reduce local air pollution, and enhance grid resilience. The document aligns 24/7 CFE with the G20's Just and Inclusive Energy Transition (JIET) Compact and provides best practices for corporate buyers to maximize social and economic benefits through community engagement and equitable hiring.

The report introduces the National Integrated Clean Cooking Planning (NICCP) for Rwanda, utilizing the Integrated Clean Cooking Planning Tool (ICCPT) and a financial model to assess paths toward clean cooking access. It compares two scenarios: the 'Aligned' plan, which follows current government ambitions, and the 'CleanStep' plan, which prioritizes rapid adoption by 2029 followed by economic recovery. Key findings indicate that while infrastructure deployment is necessary, affordability gaps—particularly in rural areas—remain a primary barrier. The CleanStep plan achieves higher adoption and better environmental outcomes by 2029, while the Aligned plan shows better health outcomes and lower long-term funding requirements by 2034. Both plans emphasize the potential of carbon credits and the need for combined pricing measures (subsidies on both appliances and fuels) to ensure sustainable transitions.

The report examines how unreliable electricity and the use of medical equipment designed for high-income countries undermine healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Based on data from 29 facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya, it finds that many essential devices are underutilized or non-functional due to power instability, high energy consumption, and a lack of maintenance. It argues for the adoption of energy-efficient, context-aware medical appliances and decentralized renewable energy systems to improve health outcomes and reduce operational costs.

The global fashion industry contributes 2-8% of global carbon emissions and uses approximately one trillion kWh of electricity annually, with emissions projected to rise by over 60% by 2030 if trends persist. The sector relies heavily on fossil fuel-based synthetic fabrics and inefficient energy sources, while most major brands lack transparent renewable energy targets for their supply chains. Women make up 60% of the workforce but face disproportionate burdens from climate change, energy access inequalities, and systemic gender disparities in wages and leadership.

The document outlines the pathway for establishing renewable energy manufacturing in Kenya, highlighting the country's goal of Net Zero by 2050 and projected near-term investment opportunities of USD 600 billion. It provides a step-by-step guide for OEMs to incorporate legal entities, secure permits from authorities like NEMA and EPRA, and leverage Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) for fiscal incentives. Specific policy landscapes and VAT exemptions are detailed for solar PV, batteries, and electric mobility, while identifying key government agencies such as MITI, KenInvest, and SEZA that facilitate green industrial growth.

Government representatives of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) meeting in Barbados on 12 March 2025 issued a call to action for a just energy transition. The document highlights that over 24% of the SIDS population lacks electricity and nearly 43% lack clean cooking access. To address these gaps and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, the SIDS call for the swift capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, increased public grant and concessional finance, and the implementation of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to mobilize $1.3T. Proposed actions include submitting ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30, scaling up innovative financing like debt-for-climate swaps, and deploying fit-for-purpose technologies such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and electric cooking.

The document is a global communiqué from March 2025 detailing a consensus among 28 countries to prioritize justice and inclusivity in the energy transition. It emphasizes the insufficiency of current investment levels in developing countries and calls for the use of concessional financing, technology transfer, and country-specific transition plans to eradicate energy poverty and build climate resilience. The signatories commit to fostering domestic manufacturing, diversifying supply chains, and strengthening regional cooperation projects such as Mission 300 and the RELAC Initiative to align national investment with Paris Agreement goals.

The document outlines the process for setting up renewable energy manufacturing in Ghana, focusing on solar PV, batteries, and electric vehicles. It details legal entity options, industrial zones, and a comprehensive suite of fiscal incentives including tax holidays and import duty waivers. The guide also identifies key regulatory bodies and recommends strategies to overcome challenges in financing, skills, and market demand to accelerate the domestic green manufacturing sector.

The report examines the 'double threat' of climate change to healthcare energy infrastructure: the physical disruption of energy supply and the increased demand for energy to treat climate-related health issues. Using data from Kenya, India, and Barbados, it identifies a wide range of resilience solutions—including decentralized clean energy, energy-efficient appliances, and grid hardening—while noting that adoption is currently limited by financial, regulatory, and technical barriers.

The Energizing Healthcare 2025 conference addressed the energy access gap affecting 1 billion people served by health facilities with unreliable or no electricity. The report highlights the need for approximately USD 5 billion in funding by 2030 to close this gap. Key discussions centered on moving beyond simple connections to focus on energy consumption, sustainable operations and maintenance (O&M), and the adoption of innovative financing models like Energy-as-a-Service and blended finance. The event also emphasized the integration of healthcare electrification into national climate plans and the critical need for energy-efficient medical equipment, noting that up to 70% of such equipment in developing countries is currently unused due to power issues.

The 2025 Global Forum in Bridgetown, Barbados, brought together over 1,300 participants to advance a just energy transition and end energy poverty, resulting in the Barbados Declaration and over $500 million in new financial commitments for clean energy in the Global South.

The document outlines several voluntary commitments and coalitions aimed at achieving sustainable energy goals. Key initiatives include the Energy Compacts for SDG7, the Just and Inclusive Energy Transition (JIET) Compact endorsed by G20 ministers, and the No New Coal Compact. It also highlights the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South, the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact, and the Energy Compact on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. Additionally, it mentions Mission 300, a World Bank and African Development Bank initiative to electrify Africa, and global networks like the Cool Coalition and Mission Efficiency.

The report finds that global progress toward SDG 7 is off track, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. While electricity access reached 92% in 2023, 666 million people remain unconnected. Clean cooking access stands at 74%, leaving 2.1 billion people dependent on polluting fuels. Renewable energy's share of total final energy consumption was 17.9% in 2022, and global energy intensity improved by 2.1% in 2022. International public financial flows to developing countries for clean energy reached USD 21.6 billion in 2023, though this remains below the 2016 peak of USD 28.4 billion.

Ghana faces significant cooling gaps, with 12.9 million people at high risk and 16.6 million at medium risk due to lack of access to cooling and electricity. While refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) demand is projected to rise from 7.04 TWh in 2015 to 20.9 TWh by 2050, the country aims to align this growth with its net-zero 2060 target by shifting toward renewables and energy-efficient cooling.