The webinar "Clean and Affordable Energy: Where do we stand? How to move forward?" will be held on Thursday, 2 July, 10:00 – 12:00 EDT as a preview to the official review of SDG 7 at HLPF 2026, bringing together experts from governments and multistakeholder partners to take stock of progress, discuss challenges and opportunities, and share perspectives on how to accelerate action towards 2030 and beyond.
To attend the webinar, please register from here.
Background
SDG7 will be among the goals officially reviewed by the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this year in its role as the central UN platform for follow-up on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs. This review may be the final opportunity to take stock of progress under the HLPF process and to reflect on ways to accelerate progress to deliver on SDG7 by 2030 and beyond.
SDG7 on clean and affordable energy stands out as one of the most transformative goals, having improved the lives of hundreds of millions worldwide. Yet, progress remains insufficient. With only four years remaining until 2030, some 655 million people still lack electricity and approximately 2 billion people continue to rely on polluting cooking fuels. Keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach requires tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency gains. Achieving SDG7 require over US$ 4 trillion annually, especially in the vulnerable countries.
Meanwhile, heightened energy insecurity due to geopolitical tensions, rising energy demand from digitalization and AI, and competition for critical minerals are increasing energy challenges. The challenge, towards and beyond 2030, is one of speed and scale: delivering universal access while ensuring that all countries can benefit from clean energy opportunities through accelerated deployment of renewable energy, a transition away from fossil fuels, stronger international cooperation, scaled-up finance and investment, and a United Nations system that acts with coherence and purpose.
This webinar will provide an update on SDG7 in preparation of the HLPF 2026, based on evidence and recommendations from Tracking SDG7 Report: The Energy Progress Report 2026 and the SDG7 Policy Briefs in Support of the HLPF 2026.
Draft Agenda:
10:00-10:05am
Presentation on the HLPF 2026:
10:05am-10:50am
Panel Discussion 1: Challenges and Opportunities in the Implementation of SDG7
Discussion:
Mr. Hongpeng Liu, Director, Energy Division, ESCAP
Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief, Energy Section, ESCWA
Ms. Denise Mulholland, Chief, Energy Systems Section, Energy, Housing & Land Management Division, ECE
Mr. Monga Mehlwana, Senior Economic Officer, ECA
Ms. Marina Gil Sevilla, Officer in Charge, Energy Unit, ECLAC
10:55-11:25am
Panel Discussion 2: Advancing Sustainable Development through SDG7 and its Interlinkages
Moderator: Ms. Sheila Oparaocha, Executive Coordinator, ENERGIA and co-facilitator of SDG7 Technical Advisory Group
Presentation on the SDG7 Policy Briefs in support of the HLPF 2026:
Mr. Hans Olav Ibrekk, Special Envoy for Climate and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway and co-facilitator of SDG7 Technical Advisory Group
Ms. Sheila Oparaocha, Executive Coordinator, ENERGIA and co-facilitator of SDG7 Technical Advisory Group
Discussion:
Ms. Rana Adib, Executive Director, REN21
Mr. Mark Gibson, GPA Coordination Unit Lead, Global Platform for Action
Mr. Ed Brown, Research Director of Modern Energy Cooking Services and Professor of Global Energy Challenges at Loughborough University
Mr. Ioannis Vaskalis, Energy Food Systems Specialist, FAO
11:25-11:45am
Panel discussion 3: Accelerating Progress Towards 2030 and beyond
11:45am-12:00pm
Q&A
