 Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) aims to “ensure access to affordable, reliable,

sustainable and modern energy for all,” and has targets to ensure universal access to
affordable, reliable and modern energy services, increase substantially the share of
renewable energy in the global energy mix, and double the global rate of improvement in
energy efficiency, all by 2030.

 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have set global targets for energy development
that, if achieved, will serve to increase and expand socio-economic benefits while reducing
environmental impacts.

 Major components of this transition are enhanced energy efficiency, increased renewable
energy in the energy mix, improved energy access and better connectivity across the region

 Energy Efficiency
 Energy efficiency is key to the realization of sustainable development objectives that pertain
to the energy sector, as well as to other sectors. Increased energy security is supported
through energy savings and reduction in investment needs for capacity additions, reliance
on energy imports and vulnerability to fluctuations in energy prices. While energy efficiency
for importing countries can boost currency reserves, energy efficiency for exporting
countries increases their energy resources available for export. Energy efficiency also
facilitates greater economic productivity and provides social and environmental benefits,
including increased energy affordability, improved air quality, reduced pollution and global
climate change mitigation. It can be of benefit to economic development and job creation as
well.
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 Energy efficiency is closely tied to the realization of universal access targets by enabling
higher levels of energy services at lower consumption rates and costs. Synergies between
efficiency and renewable energy are also strong, as lower overall energy demand
contributes to efforts aimed at meeting renewable energy targets by making it easier to
increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.

 Energy intensity is the best available proxy measure for energy efficiency. It is being used to
monitor progress as in achieving the objectives set out in SEforAll initiative and Sustainable
Development Goal 7. Energy intensity is measured in units of energy per dollar of GDP, in
which high numbers indicate more energy consumption per dollar of economic output and
declines in energy intensity are a proxy for efficiency improvements. The Asia-Pacific region
has experienced a steep decline in regional energy intensity, from 9.1 MJ/2011 PPP $ in 1990
to 6.0 MJ/2011 PPP $ in 2014 heading towards the global average. With the further
decoupling of GDP growth and total final energy consumption during the period 2012-2014,
the region achieved a short-term annual average energy intensity reduction of 3.0 per cent,
outpacing other global regions.