How can we ensure access to energy for all?

Despite progress, there are still more than 700 million people globally without access to electricity and a further 2.4 billion who must rely on burning harmful fuels for cooking. At current rates of progress, the percentage of those living without power is set to fall by just 7% by 2030. In short, the world is not on track to achieve SDG 7: ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all’. What is more, stalling progress on SDG 7, hinders a wide range of other development factors - unelectrified medical facilities put lives at risk, children have fewer hours of light for study, and entrepreneurs can’t make use of competitive technology.

Powering the sustainable future the world needs calls for greater investment from governments and business and CEZ Group is committed to helping make this future a reality. CEZ Group’s vision is to introduce innovations for addressing energy needs, contributing to greater quality of life. That’s why we’re teaming up with One Young World to launch this Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 7.

Our challenge aims to identify and support youth-led enterprises that are tackling the energy divide in the worst affected countries and regions. We welcome solutions from young innovators that:

• Provide affordable energy to communities with limited access.
• Address the negative consequences of lack of energy access. Relevant examples could include:
  • Providing sanitation services that are suitable for energy poor areas.
  • Food or medicine cooling solutions that can be effective off-grid communities. o Ensuring children with limited access to electricity receive a quality education.
  • Providing clean alternative cooking fuels.