The Open Working Group set up by the United Nations put forward a series of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which includes 169 targets and 17 goals. Sustainable Development Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy is aimed at solving environment problems. Energy is a driving force in achieving the SDGs, should be sustainable and affordable.

Clean energy refers to the energy without emitting pollutants and can be used in production directly, also called renewable energy. In a narrow sense, clean energy includes water energy, solar energy, biological energy, geothermal energy, wind energy and ocean energy. This energy can then recover without pollution. This broad definition, clean energy refers to the energy producing low or no pollution to the ecological environment in the process of consumption, such as nuclear energy, clean coal, natural gas, etc.

Here are some advantages of SDG 7 on economy development.

l Reduce the environmental pollution, and control the economic cost.

l Reduce the dependence on traditional energy, and prevent the international traditional energy price fluctuations, leading to a strong impact on the economy.

l It is beneficial to optimize the national energy allocation structure and improve the economic benefits of comprehensive energy utilization.

l Solve the economic problems caused by the depletion of resources (especially fossil energy).

l Vigorously developing clean energy can relatively reduce our energy needs, the proportion of fossil energy and the dependence on imported energy, to improve energy and economic security.

However, this goal is facing many challenges, for example, the high expenses of technology, energy access to remote areas difficulty, and being limited by technological design.

These challenges would have some negative effects on affordable and clean energy development. To be more specific, investment in new technology is reduced. Between 2011 to 2015, venture capital investment in enterprise related to new clean energy dropped by over 70% to less than $2 billion. Because commercially mature clean energy technology can benefits producers and users better to make more profits. Emerging technology is at its disadvantages for the instability. However, most affordable and clean energy technology has not yet to be widely used. Two important reasons are that high cost and technological design problems. Thus, the counter measures need to be taken.

It is necessary to increase the use of clean energy, to strengthen the government’s support for clean energy, multi-party cooperation, to promote the clean energy technology research and development efforts, to make different regional strategies to promote clean energy development, and to take efficiency measures such as clean energy. It’s necessary to create a more harmonious environment for clean energy development. However, energy is not only an important basis for global economic development, but also an essential reflection of national competitiveness. Rational utilization of energy can boost the rapid development of global economy. As a new kind of energy, clean energy is safe, clean, and environment-friendly, which is a relatively ideal energy. The development and use of clean energy can protect the ecological environment, reduce environmental pollution and alleviate energy shortage, so as to achieve sustainable development of the global economy.

（Writer：Kio）