Implementing The Sustainable Development Goal On Affordable And Clean Energy

Because the energy technology that society employs directly influences the quantity and quality of life, the energy option that is chosen should have the greatest cost- benefit effectiveness as well as maximizing flexibility and purchases. However, those who believe in continuous energy consumption growth, seem to forget that there is only a limited supply of energy in every energy system, and to "overdo" any resource may provide for an unacceptable impact upon global and regional ecology.

Anderson, D. United Nations Development Programme, United Nations. & World Energy Council. (2000). World Energy Assessment: Energy and the challenge of sustainability. New York, NY: United Nations Development Programme

The International Energy Agency estimates that by the year 2003 forty percent of the world's energy production will be from sources other than fossil fuels or nuclear power. Nevertheless, the need for

Unfortunately, renewable energy is not an important concern for the governments of these nations. “In nations where a significant portion of the population still lack access to basic energy services, the worry about long-term environmental sustainability is often overshadowed by more immediate concerns about energy access and affordability” [6]. Due to more pressing concerns, the government overlooks the importance of integrating a renewable energy generation

Energy is one of the main drivers of economic and social development. Years ago, the only uncertainty was the price of oil. Now the concern is if the current economic model growth is reasonable in a world with limited energy resources. This has lead to more research in other forms of resources of energy. Now we have other unconventional resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, water, and so on. Energy demand is set to double by 2050 (Beckman, 2013). Therefore, greenhouse gases could double by 2050 as well. Hence, renewable energy is vital. However seen as fossil fuel is still the dominate source of energy, it makes it the current economic model growth rate somewhat unreasonable.

Sustainable development. A concept that has only recently become highlighted and pursued by the international community. In a country like Nigeria, there is focus on economic growth on the sustaining of their people, not the interest of the environment, however this trend is beginning to change as the country is moving toward a future of power from alternative sources, such as solar power and wind power (Our Objectives, n.d.). Sustainable development, according to the Brundtland Report, “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to the meet their own needs.”(IISD) The United Nations has been at the forefront of this drive for a more sustainable, namely with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which highlight not only environmental aspects, but also societal (human right-based) (e.g. No Poverty, focus on Gender Inequality). Prior to the creation of the SDGs, were the Millennial Development Goals (MDGs) during the beginning of the 21st Century, which eventually became the SDGs. The SDGs implemented several new points that seemingly “filled the gaps”, so-to-speak, left by the MDGs. These goals were adopted in September of 2015 with an expected fruition date of 2030 (Madeley 2015).

Sustainable development can be defined as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). As the vast majority of resources on the earth are exhaustible, this idea comes up as a solution to the problem of preserving the planet for future generations. Different countries have different plans for creating sustainable development, but there is also a global consensus on what each country expect from such kind of development. According to United Nations,“On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.” Overall there are seventeen goals that the world leaders from 193 countries are hoping to achieve. While the goals are ambitious, they also seem somewhat unrealistic in the current situation.

The Sustainable Development Goals, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

Target 7.1: Dimensions can be created to track the progress of this target however, they are difficult to quantify. This is due to the fact that the metrics which can be created to measure this target depend on what the key elements of the target (such as universal, affordable, reliable, and modern) are agreed to be defined as. What is considered to be affordable/reliable/modern can be subjective especially in a global context. Therefore, the dimensions can be measured, however the target itself is not truly measurable.

Third-generation technologies are still under development and include advanced biomass gasification, biorefinery technologies, concentrating solar thermal power, hot dry rock geothermal energy, and ocean energy. Advances in nanotechnology may also play a major role.

Target 7.1 on the other hand, is currently measured. There are about 2.6 billion people in the world without dependable energy access ADDIN EN.CITE Saygin201560(Saygin, Kempener, Wagner, Ayuso, & Gielen, 2015)606017Saygin, D.Kempener, R.Wagner, N.Ayuso, M.Gielen, D.EnergiesEnergies5828-5865862015Jun1996-1073WOS:000357489700060://WOS:000357489700060http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/8/6/5828/pdf10.3390/en8065828(Saygin, Kempener, Wagner, Ayuso, & Gielen, 2015). Also about 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity ADDIN EN.CITE Terrapon-Pfaff201464(Terrapon-Pfaff, Dienst, Konig, & Ortiz, 2014)646417Terrapon-Pfaff, J.Dienst, C.Konig, J.Ortiz, W.Renewable & Sustainable Energy ReviewsRenewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews1-10402014Dec1364-0321WOS:000345473600001://WOS:000345473600001http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1364032114006133/1-s2.0-S1364032114006133-main.pdf?_tid=4117637a-66ea-11e5-8992-00000aab0f27&acdnat=1443559380_d3d89e222af1084f3893614c0714eac310.1016/j.rser.2014.07.161(Terrapon-Pfaff, Dienst, Konig, & Ortiz, 2014).

The World Bank makes the statement about energy poverty more concrete by linking the high cost of energy to economic un-competitiveness by noting that such costs also impair the ability of the poor to obtain access to basic energy resources: “Yet high costs of energy compromise the affordability of basic energy needs for households and the competitiveness of industry … Where they are retained, subsidies need to be sharply targeted to the poor.”

This goals’ objective is that everyone will have access to energy, and that the energy will be affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern. This is a very hefty goal to achieve, only made harder by the goal’s five targets. Targets are supposed to be measureable indicators of whether or not the goal can be achieved. I believe that targets 7.1 and 7.2 are not truly measureable until certain aspects of the target have been defined. Target 7.1 aims to ensure universal access to affordable energy. The reason that this cannot be measured is twofold. First, the word “affordable” needs to be defined. The amount of money that countries and people can afford to allocate to energy differ vastly; what may be an acceptable price for one person or one country may be drastically too high for another. The second reason this target is not measureable is because of the word “universal”. Universal means that everyone will have access. In 2015, it is estimated that there are 7.2 billion people on Earth. I believe that it is unrealistic for the UN to be able to determine if every single person has access to energy, let alone if the energy is affordable/ sustainable, etc...Target 7.2 aims to substantially increase the share of renewable energy. Again this target cannot be measured until it is clearly defined. The word substantially is not easily measured because there is no value to it. Does substantially mean an increase by 5%, 70%, is it measured in terms of money, percentages, or other units?

Energy system analysis has a wide scope and is well-suited as a component of an integrated energy modelling approach. It is interdisciplinary, with its main contributions coming from economics and engineering. Insights from other social sciences (e.g. political science, sociology and policy analysis) and natural sciences (e.g. atmospheric chemistry and environmental studies) are incorporated when and where is needed. The model can be focused on energy system as a whole (economy-wide), on specific elements of the energy chain (e.g. upstream), or on key sectors like residential. (UKERC, 2011). We should note that energy modelling plays a central role in policy making, due to the fact of the gravity of energy projections in decision-making policy and the political importance of modelling results in debates about policy (UKERC, 2011).

The world is confronting energy destitution – absence of access to power, advanced vitality administrations and mechanical power .Quarter of the total populace still lives without power, or different types of present day vitality administrations, while as much as 33% of aggregate humankind depends on conventional biofuels, for example, bovine manure or kindling .It brings about extraordinary cost to wellbeing or economic welfare and security .The world additionally confronting twin vitality related danger : that of not having satisfactory and secure supplies of energy at moderate costs and that of ecological mischief brought on by its utilization. Reasonable vitality assumes a key part in financial development and human advancement and taking off vitality costs and late geopolitical occasions have helped us to remember the defenselessness of the worldwide vitality framework to supply disturbances. Protecting energy supplies is by and by at the highest point of the worldwide strategy motivation. The present example of energy supply conveys the risk of extreme and irreversible ecological harm. So the objectives of energy security and natural insurance requires solid and composed government activity and open support.