Energy and Life on Land: SDG7 and SDG15 Interlinkages

Achieving both Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 and SDG15 requires transforming the energy transition. This transformation is one that includes agrifood systems and seeks to achieve its goals while halting biodiversity loss, protecting land resources and ensuring food security, while also reducing emissions.
SDG7 targets access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all. At the same time, SDG15 aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, while also halting
biodiversity loss.

As this policy brief shows, ecosystems, biodiversity, the environment and resilience (the concerns of SDG15) can all benefit significantly from the expansion of renewable energy and the transition away from fossil fuels (the concerns of SDG7), if sustainability and food security remain at the core of policies and plans.