Gas can help to achieve UN goals for energy access

The United Nations has held a high-level dialogue to set out deliverables for the Decade of Action and its energy-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustainable Development Goals are the world’s action plan to overcome poverty and protect our planet for the future prosperity of all people, and there are 17 of them in total.

The high-level dialogue, which took place at the UN’s General Assembly Building in New York, was focused on accelerating political commitments to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7, which sets out to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.

It is a historic gathering, being the first global gathering on energy held at the General Assembly since the UN Conference in Nairobi on New and Renewable Sources of Energy in 1981.

APPEA members are keenly aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goals, regarding important issues such as climate action, energy availability and energy poverty.

Watch our video below about how the oil and gas industry is working to meet the needs of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

More than two billion people across the world are still living without secure access to energy, depending on traditional fuels such as wood and dung for cooking and heating.

As such, a robust energy supply is key to achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Without it, it can be difficult to maintain basic needs such as lighting and refrigeration for food and medicines.

The oil and gas industry plays a critical role in providing affordable and reliable energy and is committed to the terms of Sustainable Development Goal 7. 

Access to secure supplies of natural gas can help lift millions of people out of poverty and advance the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

The global oil and gas industry already supplies half the world’s energy and global demand for natural gas is growing, especially in developing nations. 

Since natural gas is an affordable and reliable energy source that produces only half the emissions of coal when used in electricity generation and supports the continued uptake of renewables such as wind and solar, it represents a practical pathway to achieving SDG7 targets and lifting millions out of energy poverty.

For more information, visit https://www.un.org/en/conferences/energy2021/about.