Sustainability
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in its 70th Session held on 25th September
2015, adopted the document titled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development” consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and
associated 169 targets. The SDGs are a comprehensive list of global goals integrating
social, economic and environmental dimensions of development.
Realizing that Energy is critical for people deprived of the opportunity of access to
sustainable energy, Goal 7 with the aim to ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy to all was adopted as one of the 17 SDGs. The goal also
stresses more focused attention to improve access to clean and safe cooking fuels and
technologies, improve energy efficiency, increase use of renewable sources and
promotion of sustainable and modern energy for all. Energy from renewable resources –
wind, water, solar, biomass and geothermal energy – is inexhaustible and clean.
The targets adopted as a part of the Goal 7 of SDGs 2030 Agenda are as follows:
I. By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy
services.
II. By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy
mix.
III. By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
IV. By 2030, enhance international co-operation to facilitate access to clean energy
research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and
advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy
infrastructure and clean energy technology.
V. By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and
sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least
developed countries, small island developing states and land-locked developing
countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support.
This Chapter presents some of the concepts related to sustainable energy systems in
continuation of the data presented earlier on renewable energy resources in the earlier
chapters.
