Introduction
This data tracker analyses the Nordic countries’ progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. The goal is comprised of 5 targets.
The Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – are classified into one of five categories for each target:
Met: The country has already met the 2030 target.
On track: The country has not yet met the target but is on track to do so by 2030.
Short distance: The country has not met the target and is not projected to do so but is close to achieving it. This category also applies when the country currently meets the target but is projected to move away from it.
Long distance but progressing: The country is far from the target but is making progress towards it.
Long distance and not progressing: The country is far from the target and is not making progress towards reaching it.
Details on the methodology used, together with the overall assessment for all 17 goals, can be found on our overview page. Note that the analysis is currently work in progress.
Overall assessment of progress
As of mid-2023, this is our assessment of the Nordic countries progress on the 5 targets part of SDG 7:
The Nordic countries’ performance on the different targets part of this goal can be explored further below. Each section follows the same structure:
- First, the official target text and related indicators is described and the latest global and regional trends are highlighted briefly.
- Second, where data is available, we then zoom in on the Nordic countries to describe how they are progressing, and assess their likelihood of achieving the target by the 2030 deadline.
- Note that both sections above strictly uses data from the UN SDG Global Database and/or the OECD.
Target 7.1
By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
| 7.1.1 | Proportion of population with access to electricity |
| 7.1.2 | Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology |
Global trends
7.1.1. Access to electricity
There has been progress globally in expanding access to electricity. In 2021, 91% of the world population had access, up from 78% in 2000 and 87% in 2015.
The vast share of those remaining without access are living in rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa.
To achieve universal coverage by 2030, the pace of progress needs to increase further, as the UN estimates that based on the current trajectory, 670 million people are expected to be without electricity access in 2030.
7.1.2. Access to clean cooking fuels and technology
Despite steady progress over the past decades in improving access to clean cooking fuels and technology, 29% the global population relies on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, such as biomass, kerosene, or coal.
Increasing access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, such as electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, biogas, and solar, will have positive effects on both health and climate.
Importantly, the increase in access to clean cooking fuels and technologies over the last decade was largely due to increased access in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan, according to the UN. Excluding those five countries, access rates remained largely unchanged in the rest of the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), under 20% of the population has access to clean fuels and technologies as of 2021.
The Nordics
All the Nordic countries have universal access to electricity (both in urban and rural areas as shown in the chart below), as well as universal access to clean cooking fuels and technology. This target is therefore already achieved.
Denmark
Target is met
Finland
Target is met
Iceland
Target is met
Norway
Target is met
Sweden
Target is met
Target 7.2
By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
| 7.2.1 | Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption |
Global trends
Only marginal progress has been made in recent years in increasing the share of renewables in energy consumption. In 2020, the share of renewables in total final energy consumption stood at 19.1%, up from 16.9% in 2015.
The renewable share varies substantially by sector. In the electricity sector, it has increased from approximately 16.7% to 19.1% from 2015 to 2020. In the transport sector, renewable energy accounts for only 4.0% of energy consumption, up from 3.2% in 2015. In the heat sector, renewables accounted for 24.0% in 2020 up from 23.0% in 2015.
In the heat sector, traditional use of biomass (for example the burning of wood for heating) plays a major role, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the renewable share (including traditional use of biomass) stood for over two-thirds of total energy consumption. In most regions, the renewable share has increased since 2015.
The Nordics
While there is no set SDG numerical target for the renewable share at country level, the OECD has operationalised the target as twice the OECD median share in 2015 (33%). Assessed against these target levels, all the Nordic countries are currently above the target threshold according to the latest data.
To complement the global indicator of the renewable energy share in the total energy consumption, the OECD includes an additional indicator on the renewable share of electricity production. Operationalised in the same way as doubling of the OECD median from 2015 (61%), all the Nordic countries except Finland are currently above the target threshold.
A combined assessment of both indicators shows that Denmark, Norway and Iceland have already met the target and on track for 2030. Finland is making progress towards it, but not on track to reach it by 2030. While Sweden is currently above the target threshold for both indicators, projections show a low likelihood of staying above the target level in 2030 for renewable energy production.
Denmark
Target is met
Finland
Short distance to target
Iceland
Target is met
Norway
Target is met
Sweden
Short distance to target
Target 7.3
By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
| 7.3.1 | Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP |
Global trends
The indicator is defined as the amount of energy used per unit of wealth created, measured by the ratio between total energy supply to the annual GDP created. A lower ratio means improved energy efficiency. The first chart shows the annual ratio from 2000 to 2020, which has improved from 4.96 megajoules per unit of wealth in 2015 to 4.63 megajoules in 2020, an improvement of 1.4% per year. To reach the target of doubling the improvement in energy efficiency (compared to a 1990-2010 baseline), the global rate needs to improve by 3.4% on average each year to 2030 (improve means decrease further).
The Nordics
The OECD has operationalised the target for this indicator as doubling the OECD median value from 2015. This entails reaching a level of energy efficiency of 1.7 megajoules energy used per unit of wealth produced. Currently none of the Nordics have reached this target, and only Denmark is on track to reach it by 2030. Finland, Norway and Sweden have all made progress but insufficient to reach the target. Iceland is not making progress towards the target.
Denmark
Target is on track
Finland
Long distance to target but progressing
Iceland
Long distance to target, not progressing
Norway
Long distance to target but progressing
Sweden
Long distance to target but progressing
Target 7.a
By 2030, 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
| 7.a.1 | International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development and renewable energy production, including in hybrid systems |
Global trends
While the target entails a commitment to enhancing international cooperation, there is no set numerical target for 2030. UN data does however shed light on the international financial flows to developing countries to support clean and renewable energy. In 2021 it reached a total of approximately 11 billion, down from 26 billion in 2017.
The Nordics
No assessment is made on this indicator for the Nordics, as the distribution of international flows will depend on the national context.
Target 7.b
By 2030, 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 programmes of support
| 7.b.1 | Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing countries (in watts per capita) |
Global trends
Renewable capacity in developing countries reached 268 Watts per capita in 2021. Hydropower has been the dominant renewable over the past two decades, yet over the past years growth in hydropower capacity has stalled, with solar and wind accounting for most of the increase.
Renewable capacity has expanded in all regions, with the highest increase since 2015 occurring in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia.
The Nordics
Target not applicable for the Nordic countries.