Sustainability is more than just a buzzword nowadays. If we are to work towards creating a healthy and happy planet for future generations, we need a shared understanding that supports these goals and provides an agreed plan for all to share in. Choosing sustainable practices isn’t enough; we need to have a clear idea of what we envision this future to be.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide exactly that. With their guidance, governments, businesses, and even private individuals have the tools they need to create a better world.
Here in the renewable energy sector, businesses should pay attention to SDGs 7 and 13 as the messages of both tie in well with sustainable energy services. Let’s take a closer look at the goals, how they are connected, and what we can do to bring them to life for the better of us all.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
“A shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”
The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by all UN members in 2015, with a mantra of “peace and prosperity for people and the planet.” There are 17 goals in total, with a delivery deadline of 2030.
Many of the goals are interconnected, allowing businesses and organisations to tackle multiple goals even if they pursue just one project. The goals cover a range of global challenges, such as poverty eradication, inequality, environmental degradation, and more.
Though many of these policies might be directed towards governments and charities, it is vital that the private sector steps up and also plays its part in achieving these.
What is Goal 7?
Goal 7 of the SDGs is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
This includes access to electricity for all, especially across emerging and frontier markets. While access to electricity is, of course, of vital importance, we wish to focus on renewable energy sources. In the electricity sector, renewable energy sources power approximately 30% of energy consumption. However, emerging and frontier markets still need vast amounts of financial investment to be able to see significant change.
Globally, renewable energy sources accounted for 19.1% of total final energy consumption in 2020. This represents a 2.4% increase from data taken in 2015, and over the same period, total renewable energy consumption has increased by 16%. However, we are also seeing progress slow down considerably. If we are to meet the targets set out by the Goals, then efforts need to be made to scale up deployment on both a public and private level, especially in emerging markets.
What is Goal 13?
Goal 13 of the SDGs looks to tackle the climate crisis before it can cause irreversible damage to our planet. Fossil fuels are one of the biggest concerns we face. The emissions from fossil fuels are warming the planet, and we need to slow this process before it is too late. The effects of climate change are already being felt, and we all need to play our part in reversing them as best we can.
The goal is to stop the world’s temperature rising by 2C. The warning sign is if global temperatures permanently rise above 1.5C—and we did see this change for the first time in 2014. This does not mean that we have missed Goal 13, but it does mean that we are much more likely to miss it. Businesses need to commit to real and achievable sustainable measures to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions if we are to see real change here.
How solar energy bridges Goal 7 and Goal 13
The Goals do not have to be tackled separately. By choosing the right actions, corporations and businesses of all sizes can play their part in creating a better future for tomorrow. Rather than use unsafe and polluting fuels that contribute to harming our natural environment, we need to think of ways in which we can make use of clean energy technology for the better of tomorrow.
Solar energy is one of the major opportunities we can use to bridge the gap between the two. To tackle climate action, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, we need to deliver more energy resources to those who need them the most. Clean and renewable energy is the answer here.
Additional innovations like battery storage and energy monitoring also help to make solar panels a viable option for organisations. Do you need to set up a full solar farm to power your business? Of course not, but a few panels can help to reduce your carbon footprint and get you moving towards energy independence.
Looking forward to our future
There are challenges in both addressing the Goals and even just acquiring solar panels, and we must be realistic about them. Goals 7 and 13, and the others in the SDGs, are both important to the future of humanity and urgent in nature. The deadline for them is only 5 years away in 2030, and so change needs to come quickly. This is not just the burden of governments to take on; we must all learn how to play our part in the real change needed for most success.
While those in charge focus on methods to enhance international cooperation and agree on standards to be set, smaller organisations can look into cleaner fossil fuel technology and revamping our energy infrastructure into something greener and more sustainable.
Solar panel installation is not cheap, but financing options do exist to help companies install the correct array for their needs. Government incentives can also help to alleviate some of the high costs that come from solar panel purchase and installation.
It is high time that businesses look into ways they can become leaders in sustainability. Future-proofing operations through green options like solar panels prepare a business for the issues of tomorrow while helping to contribute solutions for existing ones in the present too. Commercial solar will play a role in delivering tangible results for both the planet and the world of business. Whether you wish to contribute to the development of the SDGs, or you just want to make a small difference in your own sector, now is the time to do it.
Are you interested in modern energy solutions like commercial solar panels? Get in touch with Perfect Sense Energy today and chat with our experts about the right system and installation for your organisation.
