The Future of Energy Access in the Post2030 Sustainable Development Landscape: Framing the Dialogue

This briefing paper examines the evolving landscape of global energy access as the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approaches, with a particular focus on SDG 7, which aims for universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services. The authors review progress since 2015, noting substantial gains in electricity access and renewable energy deployment, yet highlight persistent gaps, especially in clean cooking and among vulnerable populations. The paper underscores the multidimensional nature of energy poverty, pointing out that current binary indicators do not fully capture aspects such as affordability, reliability, adequacy, and productive use. Recent advances in data collection, digital monitoring, geospatial analysis, and artificial intelligence offer opportunities to develop more nuanced and equitable measurement frameworks. The briefing also discusses the shifting geopolitical and institutional context, with increased roles for countries in the Global South and the emergence of new regional and international initiatives. It calls for an inclusive, evidence-based process to shape the post-2030 energy agenda, recommending that future frameworks consider diverse national contexts, improved measurement methodologies, and stronger integration of energy with broader development objectives. The paper is intended to inform discussions at the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum and to support ongoing efforts to review and strengthen global action on energy access beyond 2030.

Key findings:

• Progress towards universal energy access under SDG 7 remains off track, with significant shortfalls in clean cooking and electricity access for vulnerable groups.
• Current global indicators for energy access do not adequately reflect the multidimensional realities of energy poverty, such as affordability, reliability, and productive use.
• Advances in data systems and analytical technologies present new opportunities to improve the measurement, governance, and integration of energy access within future development frameworks.

Richard Sieff, Neve Fields, Heather Adair-Rohani, Morgan D. Bazillian, Fateh Belaïd, Ed Brown, Raihan Elahi, Vivien Foster, Francesco Fuso-Nerini, Gbaty Tiadja Gbandey, Mark Howells, Marc Jeuland, Yesmeen Khalifa, Patrick Nussbaumer, Patricia Mbogo, Dimitris Mentis, Vijay Modi, Yacob Mulugetta, Chimaobi Daniel Nna, Sheila Oparaocha, Mirjam Reiner, Benjamin Sovacool, Ignacio Perez-Arriaga, Julia Tomei, Xiaoping Wang, Daniel Wetzel, Sarah Wykes. The Future of Energy Access in the Post-2030 Sustainable Development Landscape: Framing the Dialogue. Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) and Climate Compatible Growth (CCG), 2026. https://mecs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Future-of-Energy-Access-in-the-Post-2030-Sustainable-Development-Landscape-Framing-the-Dialogue.pdf?apcid=0066c2d841d10bc4cb17d904