This week’s post focuses on SDG #7 of 17, Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
There are three key targets and two sub-targets with with this goal
By 2030:
- Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services to all people.
- Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
- Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
- Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programs of support
Why are these goals important? Beyond the obvious reasons, human consumption of energy is ever increasing. The need for clean energy solutions to carry us into the future while mitigating the impacts on climate change have never been more important.
There are a number of opportunities for projects and project managers to make positive contributions to this SDG.
Our P5 Standard focuses on Energy Consumption, Emissions and Clean Energy Return. Why not download it? It is free? <Spoiler Alert> Our Second Edition which will be out later this year will have an expanded energy section so look out for that!!
- It is important to understand energy the needs for your projects and where energy is sourced from.
- Do you have options for renewable energy? Do you have options to return clean energy back to the community? What are the emissions from your projects energy consumption?
- What is the the amount of energy and emissions the project’s product will consume and produce during its life span?
- You may be saying to yourself. “I really don’t consume a lot of energy; my projects aren’t of a manufacturing nature.” Ok. Do you hold team meetings? How often? Are they face to face? Could they be virtual? How about your logistics and workflow? Is it paper, stamp and snail mail or automated?
- Granted this is more portfolio speak than project but is energy a factor in prioritizing projects for selection?
- What about your distributors and your suppliers? Do you know what their practices are? Maybe the question should be are you influencing your distributors and suppliers?
Great example
With climate change as a top priority, Novozymes has made considerable investments in energy efficiency and has significantly increased the share of renewables in its energy mix. The company was able to reduce its CO2 emissions by 100,000 and save 84 million Danish Kroner per year by deploying 188 energy-saving projects across its global sites between 2009 and 2014. Also, 100% of the electricity at their Denmark sites is provided via wind farms. At three production sites, the company has been able to generate energy from biomass. Currently, 23% of Novozymes’ energy comes from renewables and it has set a new target of 30% renewable energy supply by 2020.
SDG #7 in 90 Seconds
