Sustainable Development Goals Analysis

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The UN has recently drafted a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that they aim to achieve by 2030 in different fields such as energy. Indeed, the UN aims to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” (Proposal for Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform).

Are targets measurable?

7.1 This target can be measured by combining both population and energy consumption data. That way, an energy consumption per capita unit can be created to show effectively the expansion of energy consumption per country and then compare it at an international scale.

7.2 There already is data collection on the different types of energy being consumed by every country done every year by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

7.3 The global rate of improvement in energy efficiency can be measured by three main variables of interest: poverty, human health, and access to clean water and sanitation. It is assumed that energy is more efficient when the variables of interest improve in a country. There are already global initiatives measuring these, such as multidimensional poverty index (MPI).

7.a The IEA is the global reference in energy research and investment; however, it only includes data from OECD countries.

7.b Technology expansion can be seen through the number of households benefiting from energy resources, regulatory changes and number of additional benefactors in a given time period. Are the targets currently measured, either in whole or in part? 7.1 The Energy Development Index (EDI) database directed by the IEA has information on 80 countries on the energy development in a household as compared to its community.
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This data collection is conducted nationwide and the data of all 80 countries is measured, but it does not take into account countries outside of the OECD. Therefore the data is not completely reliable to get an accurate picture of the situation worldwide. The EDI rates from 0 to 1 every country it investigates by looking at specific indicators such as energy and productive use. The closest a country’s rate is to 0, the least it has developed in a given year and vice versa (World Energy Outlook). 7.2 The World Energy Statistics and Balance combines both Non-OECD and OECD databases to provide information on over 150 countries as to what types of energy are being used in a given place. It gives information on every indicator that could show fluctuations on energy consumption in a country. Also, the data is updated every year in September to provide an annual overview and compare worldwide types of energy and the rate of change from year to year (World Energy Statistics and Balances -- 2015 edition). 7.3 The Se4All initiative is one that keeps track of 98% of the world’s energy consumption; by combining UN, IEA and nationwide censuses the Se4All team is able to collect data on specific categories such as electrification, renewable energy and energy intensity and thereby measure the rate of improvement for a given year (Yumkella, Overview: Global Tracking Framework). 7.a The Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) is a book published every year discussing the improvements and investment made by the OECD countries. It does not give a general outlook on the worldwide situation as many of the perspectives discussed are only tested on OECD countries (International Energy Agency (IEA): Energy Technology Perspectives). 7.b UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon’s initiative Sustainable Energy for All is one that will evaluate in the short and long term progress in energy access worldwide. It looks at different Action Areas and uses the numbers of additional benefactors, policy and regulatory change, and participation as indicators of expansion and upgrade of energy infrastructures and sustainable energy. This measurement is used to find a momentum for the next two decades that could use the outcomes as a model to ensure consistency in energy expansion (Sustainable Energy for All: A Global Action Agenda). Top of Form Taken together, do the targets effectively evaluate all important aspects of the goal that they refer to? Is this an effective set of targets to have chosen, or would you improve it in some way? One of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to ensure access to energy for all by 2030. To evaluate progress over the next 15 years, the UN has instilled 5 specific targets discussed earlier

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