Energy access has long been a pre-requisite to inclusive socioeconomic progress and in recent years has been a crucial player in sustainable development. Through its Strategy 2030 and Energy Policy 2021, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expanded its support for the Asia and Pacific region to achieve universal access to affordable and reliable energy while promoting the low-carbon transition. These align with the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) that calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Efforts to achieve SDG7 resulted in access to electricity for 98.3% of the region’s population in 2022, but access to clean heating and cooling, and cooking are behind targets. Looking at the actual number of people without access underscores the need for urgent action. According to the 2024 Tracking SDG7 Report, 63 million people have no access to electricity and 907 million people have no access to clean cooking in 2022 among ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs). According to the Sustainable Energy for All’s Global Tracking Data, over 600 million are at high risk due to lack of access to cooling in 20 ADB DMCs as of 2023.

Five years until the target fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is imperative to closely assess the progress, remaining and new issues, and opportunities, so all stakeholders can work better together to accelerate the realization of SDG7.