Energy Compacts are voluntary commitments to SDG7 and energy transitions from UN Member States and all other stakeholders with specific, trackable actions to advance progress on SDG7 and net-zero emissions.
SEforALL spearheaded the process for and mobilized new Energy Compacts as a key outcome to the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) and COP26. With our support, more than USD 400 billion in finance and investment was articulated in 179 Energy Compact commitments by governments and the private sector during the HLDE, the first leader-level meeting on energy under the auspices of the UN General Assembly in 40 years.
New global roadmap for SDG7
As a major outcome of the HLDE, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a global roadmap to achieve a radical transformation of energy access and transition by 2030, while also contributing to net zero emissions by 2050. Milestones by 2030 include:
600 bn
USD investment in SDG7 from governments and the private sector
800 m
more people with enhanced energy access from government commitments
719
GW of new renewable energy capacity from private sector commitments
13,252
GWh of energy savings achieved from private sector commitments
Energy Compact commitments (as of October 2021)
- The Health Facility Electrification Compact committed to providing 25,000 health facilities with sustainable access to a clean and reliable power source by 2025. Partners include USAID/Power Africa, Shell Foundation, SEforALL, UNDP, UNICEF, IRENA, Denmark, GAVI and SELCO Foundation.
- The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact, led by Google and SEforALL and in partnership with nearly 50 other partners including Ørsted, Iceland, X and EDP, committed to transforming global electricity grids to ‘absolute zero’ or full decarbonization.
- National Energy Compacts from 35 governments collectively, including India, Germany, Nauru, Denmark, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States and UAE.
- No new coal: Sri Lanka, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany; United Kingdom and Montenegro committed to ceasing new permits (immediately) and new construction (end of 2021) for unabated coal.
- Green hydrogen: 29 Compacts were submitted from across sectors totalling 268 GW of new renewable energy capacity and 129 GW of new electrolyzer capacity by 2030.
- Clean cooking: The Netherlands Government and a coalition of 25+ businesses, NGOs and foundations committed to supporting access to clean cooking for 45 million people, access to electricity based on renewable energy for 100 million people, and a doubling of job opportunities in the energy transition for women and youth, all by 2030.
- The US Government committed to decarbonize the DFC investment portfolio and mobilize USD 25 billion in public sector commitments from Power Africa’s development partners and development institutions.
- Enel committed to reaching 5.6 million new electricity connections by 2030, speed up its coal phase-out to 2027, triple renewable energy generation to 145 GW by 2030 and provide more than 4 million EV charging points and 10,000 electric buses by 2030.
- The Rockefeller Foundation, in partnership with IKEA Foundation, committed USD 1 billion in philanthropic capital to scale the distributed renewable energy sector to end energy poverty and combat the climate crisis.
For the latest updates see the Energy Compact Registry.
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