SDG #7 - Why clean energy is so important for everyone

SDG of the month: #7 Affordable and Clean Energy

We discuss the importance of limitless clean energy

Turn on the lights, switch the telly on, make a quick cup of tea. Access to energy is something we in the west barely even consider. It’s just part of the background infrastructure of our lives - we only notice it when it’s not there.

However, one in every 7 persons still lacks electricity, and almost a third of the world's population - 2.8 billion - rely on polluting and unhealthy fuels for cooking.

The August UN Sustainable Development Goal is Affordable and Clean Energy which in a nutshell aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Investing in solar, wind and thermal power, improving energy productivity, expanding infrastructure, and upgrading technology are all central to achieving this goal.

Whilst access to energy is a basic human right, we must remember that energy (its production, use and emissions) is the main contributor to climate change, producing around 60% of all greenhouse gases. The good news is that as of 2015, more than 20% of global power was produced using renewable sources.

Given its importance to both global development and potential global warming, there’s a huge amount of media discussion around clean energy, green energy and renewable energy - often the terms are used interchangeably. Whilst there is a fair amount of crossover, they are not actually the same things and nor should they be treated as such. So make a drink (turning on the tap, boiling the kettle, the going to the fridge to get a drop of milk*) and take a minute to read our quick explanation (on your phone, tablet or desktop*)

Clean Energy = clean air

Clean energy is energy that comes from renewable, zero emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere when used, as well as energy saved by energy efficiency measures. Their defining feature is that they are specifically non polluting, and can therefore include nuclear as clean is not the same as green or natural. Clean, renewable energy also has inherent cost savings, as there is no need to extract and transport fuels, such as with oil or coal, as the resources replenish themselves naturally.

Green energy = natural sources

Green energy is defined as power generated from natural resources such as water, wind and solar.

All energy generation requires compromise - for example, hydroelectricity is generated from a natural resource - water - but isn’t considered green because of the industrialisation and deforestation needed to build huge hydro damn projects. Green energy often crosses over with renewable energy as the energy sources are essentially the same and water, wind and sun are all but limitless.

Interestingly, green energy can also lead to stable energy prices as these sources are often produced locally and are not as affected by geopolitical crises, price spikes or supply chain disruptions as traditional more ‘dirty’ fuel sources..

Renewable energy = recyclable sources

Renewable energy is power generated from a source that is constantly being replenished and virtually inexhaustible - but can be limited in the amount of energy that is available at any given moment. With fuel diversification, through different power plants using different energy sources, it will be possible to create reliable power supplies to enhance energy security ensuring there is enough to meet our demands at any given moment. The crucial thing about renewables is that they are non-extractive, so they don’t remove anything from our living environment (such as oil or gas)

The most important aspect of clean, green and renewable energies are the environmental benefits as part of a global energy future. While clean, renewable resources also preserve the world’s natural resources, they also reduce the risk of environmental disasters, such as fuel spills or the problems associated with natural gas leaks. The perfect clean energy mix occurs where green energy meets renewable energy, such as with solar energy and wind energy.

A bumpy start

Moving to green/clean/renewable energy isn’t without its controversies - witness the arguments taking place in the US over the cost of Biden’s Green New Deal, the decades long complaints in the UK about unsightly wind farms or the questions arising around Finland’s storage of nuclear waste. Whilst these can’t be dismissed as mere teething problems, the reality is that energy generation of all types is moving inextricably away from fossil fuels. In 2020 renewables for the first time generated more of the UK’s electricity than fossil fuels - generated 43% versus 38.5%. American Scientific’s exhaustive report on shifting the US to 100% renewables by 2050 estimates that the systematic energy change could create up to 3.4 million new jobs per year by 2040 and calls the apparent tension between jobs and climate a ‘false choice’. The potential extends even further - the African continent’s population is expected to double from c. 1 billion to c. 2 billion people with researchers at the IMF forecasting that demand for electricity on the continent will increase 3 percent annually until 2050. To continue to use traditional energy sources of coal, oil, and biomass (wood, charcoal, and dry dung) is an invitation to environmental disaster but harnessing the region’s solar potential not only avoids this destruction but will create millions of long term new jobs, raises awareness of the importance of clean technology and provides light and electricity to the millions we began this blog with.

If you do just one thing…

...switch to a renewable energy supplier both at home and for your work space. It takes a few clicks at most. Not only will that mean you immediately start limiting the part you play in damaging the environment, but you will be contributing to public and business-led pressure for energy suppliers to move to 100% renewable sources as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions about switching to a renewable energy suppliers, or have a recommendation you’d like to share, please get in touch.

*all energy using activities that form the backbone of everyday life

We have plenty more on the UN Sustainable Development Goals as part of our monthly series. We’ve covered Biodiversity, Responsible Consumption and what the SDGs really mean day to day.

We also have a guide on reducing your carbon footprint through responsible energy usage.