ENGT5115 - Sustainable Development

SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Role of Energy in Sustainable Development

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Sustainable development has become one of the major concerns of the government all across
the globe. United Nations have made many goals and strategies so as to ensure the
sustainable development is achieved in several domains. Clean and sustainable energy has
played a major role in the sustainable development initiatives (United Nations in India, 2018).
Since the energy requirement in the world is going to increase at much faster hence providing
everyone with sufficient and affordable energy is a challenge for the world. Sustainable
development cannot be ensured without conservation and sustainable use of energy. There
are 17 sustainable development goals made by the United Nations. Each of these SDGs needs
energy for its implementation. SDG 7 is specifically on the role of energy in the sustainable
development of the countries has been given.
In order to understand the role of energy in the sustainable energy goals, it is essential that its
role in each of the goals has been clearly instated. As the first and second goal is about
removing poverty and Hunger from the world which cannot be fulfilled without cost and
effective sources of energy. Providing access to the cost effective sources of energy like
lighting, heating and fuels has a direct influence on the well-being of the communities.
Efforts are made by the governments and different stakeholders so as to increase the use of
sustainable energy forms for the betterment of the society. Energy also has a role in the food
production. Sustainable agriculture is a practice that can be done with the help of clean and
safe energy (Lucci, 2015). In this regards it is essential that farmers take use of the renewable
sources of energy. Goal 3 suggests about health in which sustainable energy has a very
efficient role. Renewable energy projects and the initiatives related to energy efficiency have
a direct impact on the health. This is because due to use of renewable energy sources, there is
less emission of harmful gases which is having influence on the human health. In terms of
fourth goal i.e. education, energy sources is also having its influence (Rogers, Jalal and Boyd,
2012). For example in the rural areas electrification has a played a major role in promoting
students to go to schools. Student’s performance has also been proportional to the availability
of electricity which can be directly seen through students residing in rural and urban areas.
Fifth goal states about gender equality and hence its role is illustrated by the fact that women
in most parts of the world are cooking food. For this they need clean energy and hence
providing them this energy must be a responsibility of the governments. It is also having
direct impact on the women entrepreneurs emerging and the numbers of girl students that are
graduating. Most of the women finds sometime for themselves as what is saved from the
cooking on cleaner fuels. Sixth goal is related to water for which energy is required (World

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Economic Forum, 2018). This is because there is extensive use of water in the industrial
purposes. A significant amount of energy is needed for pumping waters from one place to
another and hence for availing water for different purposes energy is highly required. Eighth
is about economy which has a direct relationship with energy. The energy sector gives boost
to development projects in the country especially the ones that are linked with innovation.
Energy provides support to new investments in the country which is essential for the growth
of the economy.
Industrialisation which is the ninth goal has a direct relation with the energy. This is because
it is the energy on which the industries run. Most of the industries today are running on the
fossil fuels. This has created environmental challenges like pollution and waste generation. It
is essential that countries makes plans for effective utilisation of energy and moves towards
renewable energy source. Green industrialisation is the demand in today’s time. Tenth goal is
about inequality which can easily be reduced by providing energy to everyone. The rich
should not have control over the major part of the energy sources and must be equally
distributed among all the individuals (Johansson, et. al. 2012). This is also true in the case of
country as some countries have high amount of technology to harness non-renewable sources
of energy while some are lagging in this regard. This is the reason why some of the countries
are developing at much faster rate some are failing to do so. In the coming years more
funding will be required by the countries that are poor in terms of energy resources. Inclusive
city is the 11th Goal in the SDG list. Energy is highly required for making a sustainable and
resilient habitat for humans worldwide (Griggs, et. al. 2013). This would be possible when
long term sources of clean and safe energy can be ensured. It also includes energy safety i.e.
both environmental and physical safety. It should also cover danger and direct risk from the
interacting with electrical sources.
In terms of 12th Goal that is consumption, it can be said that role of energy becomes important
as manufacturing needs energy. A surplus energy needs to be ensured so that people can use
the energy as per their requirement. There must be focus on the higher energy efficiencies
and control over higher cost of production so that consumption can be ensured. In the 13th
Goal i.e. climate change energy has a significant role. This is because in the generation of
electricity high amount of waste are emitted (Von Hippel, et. al. 2011). These wastes are
harmful for the environment. Moving towards renewable sources of energy could be a
solution. In terms of 14th goal, it can be said that marine resources are extremely important
and in the generation process of marine energy, countries must look that they do not degrade