Since its inception in 2018, Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report has become the global reference for information on progress toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The aim of SDG 7 is to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.” This report therefore summarizes global progress on electricity access, clean cooking, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and international cooperation to advance SDG 7. It presents updated statistics for each of the indicators and provides policy insights on priority areas and actions needed to spur further progress on SDG 7.
The report is produced annually by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO)—the five custodian agencies responsible for tracking progress toward SDG 7. Figure ES.1 offers a snapshot of the primary indicators for 2025.
Progress toward 2030 targets remains off track, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, owing in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2022 energy crisis. Nonetheless, globally, policy progress and technological advances have shown some promising results, notably in boosting renewable energy deployment and achieving modest (though still insufficient) improvements in energy efficiency. Elements of the SDG 7 agenda gained new momentum through various agreements in recent years, including the consensus reached at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) to triple global renewable power capacity and double the global average annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, and through the 2025 Dar es Salaam Declaration to expand electricity access, a declaration endorsed by 48 African countries.
Scaling up clean cooking and electricity access, boosting renewable energy use, and improving energy efficiency are essential for the achievement of the goals of SDG 7—and for meeting the development and socioeconomic environmental and socioeconomic challenges reflected in the SDG agenda as a whole. These goals will demand a fundamental shift in energy production, distribution, and consumption, supported by greater investment, enabling policies, continued innovation, enhanced ambition and long-term planning. Addressing uneven progress and regional disparities requires collaboration among governments, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society, including on ensuring access to adequate financing and technical assistance. To foster inclusive transitions, particular attention is required to help women and marginalized communities benefit from the energy transition. Empowering people—especially young people—with the skills and knowledge to engage in the energy sector fosters a forward-looking that is crucial for long-term progress.