Towards Sustainable Development Goal 7: Pakistan's Commitment to Accessible and Green Energy Solutions

Abstract

Conventional fossil fuels have been used for electricity generation and cooking purposes since the known history of the human being. Since the industrial revolution, these energy sources have badly contaminated our environment by adding pollutants and GHG emissions, which must be rectified for the safety and conservation of our ecosystem. Providing everyone with inexpensive, dependable, clean, renewable, and sustainable energy is the goal of UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7). This research article provides an in-depth analysis of Pakistan's progress toward SDG-7, focusing on universal access to affordable, dependable, sustainable, and modern green energy. Unlike previous descriptive assessments, this study develops a composite evaluation framework that integrates access, efficiency, and investment indicators to assess Pakistan’s SDG-7 trajectory holistically. By 2021, Pakistan had made notable strides in improving energy accessibility, with 95% of the population enjoying access. However, challenges persist in ensuring access to clean cooking facilities, with only 51% of the population having such access. The country has shown significant advancements in renewable energy, accounting for 47% of overall energy consumption in 2020, and boasting a commendable renewable energy capacity per person of 55.7 watts in 2021. Despite these achievements, energy efficiency remains an area for improvement, with performance below the global average. Nonetheless, Pakistan has successfully attracted substantial international capital inflows for its energy sector, totaling $786.2 million in 2021. In summary, while Pakistan has made significant progress in various aspects of SDG-7, focused efforts are required to address remaining obstacles and accelerate the achievement of universal access to sustainable energy. This paper will serve as a valuable resource for investors looking to venture into renewable energy projects, expediting the attainment of SDG-7 in Pakistan.