Sustainable Development Goal 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy drives development, but our continued unsustainable and inefficient energy use impedes progress in areas such as health and climate change, and creates socio-economic barriers to equal development for all. Connecting households to modern sustainable energy is a vital element for realising all the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNU focuses on the efficient use of natural resources and on boosting sustainable energy sector expertise through targeted capacity development. Our Iceland-based geothermal training programme provides leading on-the-job education for emerging energy planners and engineers from developing countries. And by exploring overlapping natural resource use, our research is determining integrated practices to improve energy efficiency and resource recycling, making modern energy production cleaner and more affordable.
FEATURED EXPERTS
Keiko Hori
RESEARCH ASSISTANT, UNU-IAS
"Human life depends on natural resources. To secure our livelihoods, it is essential that we understand resource circulation and adjust our activities accordingly. My work contributes to designing a future in which human activities exist in harmony with the ecosystems in which we live."
Md Sujahangir Kabir Sarkar
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, UNU-IAS
"Increased demand for energy leads to an increase in CO2 emissions and global warming. This makes it crucial to limit energy-related emissions by promoting clean energy. My research focuses on policy factors of promoting green growth based on the social-economic-environmental nexus at national and regional levels."
Erick Gankam Tambo
ASSOCIATE ACADEMIC OFFICER, UNU-EHS
"The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires harmonisation of national, regional, and international priorities and agendas. My work at UNU contributes to establishing and strengthening the bridge/connection between the UN system and the African Union to address global challenges with local solutions."
FEATURED PROJECTS
Water and Energy Security for Africa
Climate change poses many challenges to Africa’s key sectors, including water and energy. This project trains Africans to implement the kind of innovative scientific research methods that will generate solutions to ensure water and energy security on the continent.
Extractives for Development — Risks and Opportunities
This project aims to help policymakers deal with the risks and opportunities in oil, gas, and mining for development, poverty reduction, and the environment.
Six-month Geothermal Training Programme
With the growing need to decarbonise our global energy portfolio, geothermal power represents an increasingly important source of clean energy. This six-month programme provides trainees — many from developing countries that have geothermal potential — with hands-on opportunities to actively work on research, exploration, and development of geothermal energy.
