Sustainable and ethical energy access and consumption - Sustainable Development Goals

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), #7: 'Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all' is the most relevant to achieving sustainable and ethical energy access and consumption. In total 10 of the 17 SDGs are closely related to this goal. 

Goal #9 shows we need more knowledgeable workers capable of working with renewable technologies. However, even if we reach all of the SDGs, it does not mean we have achieved sustainable and ethical energy access and consumption. For this, some additional concepts need to be adhered to. 

Table: Targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to sustainable and ethical energy access and consumption

SDG	Targets relevant to energy access and consumption
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere	·  By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including micro-finance ·  By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages	·  Targets: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination ·  Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning	·  By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all	·   By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services ·   By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix ·   By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency ·   By 2030, enhance international cooperation 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 ·   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
Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all	·  Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation	·  Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and trans-border infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all ·  Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries ·  Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries ·  Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries ·  Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States ·  Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities
Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable	·  By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums ·  By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons ·  By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns	·  Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries ·  By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources ·  By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment ·  By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse ·  Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle ·  Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities ·  By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature ·  Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production ·  Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products ·  Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts	·  Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning ·  Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning ·  Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development	·  Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed