Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is essential for communities and individuals all over the world to achieve their developmental goals. Affordable and clean energy can provide new economic opportunities and jobs, empower women, children and youth, enable better education and health, ensure more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive communities, and provide greater protection from, and resilience to, climate change.

In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs include a standalone goal on energy, SDG 7, which calls for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) is the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs at the global level. It meets annually under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and in 2023, it will conduct an in-depth review of SDG 7, together with SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the Goals.

The Global Expert Group Meeting in preparation of the SDG 7 review at the July 2023 meeting of the HLPF was convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), in collaboration with UN-Energy. The Meeting brought together experts from the UN System, governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to discuss progress and challenges regarding SDG 7, shared lessons learned including on synergies with other SDGs, and distilled key recommendations on the way forward.

The Expert Group Meeting built on inputs from the broader process of consultations, including Regional Sustainable Development Forums convened by the UN Regional Commissions and thematic and multi-stakeholder consultations, such as the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group. It produced a summary note, which will inform the background note for the review of SDG 7 at the HLPF.

The Meeting took place at UN Headquarters in New York, US, from 11-12 May 2023.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin provided daily coverage and a summary report from the Global Expert Group Meeting in preparation of the SDG 7 review at the HLPF 2023.

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) was written and edited by Tomilola Akanle Eni-ibukun, Ph.D. The Digital Editor was Diego Noguera. The Editor was Leila Mead.