In recent years, a concept has been emerging with increasing strength in international debate: access to clean energy for all. It’s not just a technological or environmental issue, but more and more a true human right linked to development, health, and social justice.
When we talk about access to clean energy, we refer to the possibility for every individual to use reliable, sustainable, modern, and affordable energy, preferably produced from renewable or low-impact sources.
This idea was especially formalized in Goal 7 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which aims to ‘ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all‘.
This is not a secondary target: without energy, schools, hospitals, communication, agriculture, or industry cannot function. That’s why energy is considered one of the foundations of human development.
What Clean Energy Really Is
The term clean energy refers to energy generated from sources that emit no or very few pollutants or greenhouse gases.
Among the main sources of renewable energy are:
- solar energy
- wind energy
- hydroelectric energy
- geothermal energy
- sustainable biomass
These sources contrast with fossil energies like coal, oil, and gas, which are responsible for most CO₂ emissions and air pollution.
The transition to these sources is fundamental not only to reduce climate change but also to make energy more accessible and distributed, especially in countries with limited electricity grids.
Who Can Access Clean Energy Today
Great progress has been made in recent decades, but universal access is still far off. According to the international report on sustainable energy progress:
- about 92% of the world’s population has access to electricity
- more than 666 million people still live without electricity
- 2.1 billion people still use polluting fuels for cooking
The areas with the greatest difficulties are sub-Saharan Africa, some regions of South Asia, and isolated rural areas. In these contexts, decentralized renewable energy, such as mini solar grids or home photovoltaic systems, represents one of the most promising solutions for reducing the energy gap.
Why Energy Is Increasingly Seen as a Right
For a long time, energy was seen as a simple economic infrastructure. Today, however, the idea is growing that access to energy is part of people’s fundamental rights. The reason is simple: without energy, many fundamental freedoms become impossible. Energy makes it possible to:
- study and access education
- preserve food and medicines
- guarantee healthcare services
- make communications and the internet work
- develop economic activities
For this reason, various scholars and institutions are promoting the concept of a right to sustainable energy, considering it linked to rights to health, education, and human dignity.
Who Formulated This Principle
The idea of universal access to energy has mainly been promoted by three major international initiatives:
1. United Nations 2030 Agenda
In 2015, the UN included among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals Goal 7: clean and affordable energy for all.
2. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Initiative
Launched by the United Nations, it promotes global policies to ensure sustainable energy, improve energy efficiency, and increase renewables.
3. Paris Climate Agreement
Links the energy transition to the fight against climate change. These initiatives have transformed energy from a simple commodity to a matter of global equity.
The Benefits of Universal Access to Clean Energy
Guaranteeing clean energy to everyone is not just an environmental issue: it has direct effects on the economy, health, and quality of life.
The main benefits are:
1. Reducing Poverty
Energy enables the development of local businesses, modern agriculture, and new jobs.
2. Improving Health
Replacing fuels like wood or coal reduces indoor pollution and respiratory diseases.
3. Combating Climate Change
Renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Greater Social Equality
Access to energy reduces the gap between urban and rural areas and between rich and poor countries.
A Global Challenge for the Future
The real challenge of the coming years will be to make clean energy truly universal. To achieve this, we will need:
- investment in renewables
- smart electricity grids
- local energy communities
- off-grid technologies for isolated areas
- public policies fighting energy poverty
The United Nations’ goal is ambitious: to achieve universal access to energy by 2030. But current progress indicates that even greater efforts will be needed.
Because in the 21st century, energy should not be a privilege: it should be a right.