By Chioma Obinna

A new global report released on Wednesday has revealed that over 655 million people across the world still live without electricity, while nearly two billion continue to rely on polluting fuels for cooking, exposing them to severe health risks and widening inequalities.

The report tagged: “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2026”, jointly released by the World Health Organisation, (WHO), International Energy Agency, World Bank Group and other global partners, warned that the world is dangerously off track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 target of universal access to affordable, reliable and clean energy by 2030.

The report revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicentre of the crisis, with more than 560 million people without electricity and 970 million lacking access to clean cooking technologies.

WHO said the implications are dire, especially for women and children who bear the brunt of indoor air pollution caused by charcoal, firewood and kerosene.

According to the report, household air pollution linked to dirty cooking fuels is responsible for about three million deaths every year globally.

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described access to clean energy as a public health necessity.

“Universal access to clean and sustainable energy is not merely an energy challenge; it is a fundamental health imperative. Household air pollution from cooking fuels costs millions of lives, causes long-term disease and disability, and disproportionately burdens women and girls,” he said.

The report showed that although global electricity access now stands at 92 per cent, progress has slowed significantly, especially in rural Africa where the energy gap continues to widen.

It noted that to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, the current pace of electrification must triple.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said progress remains possible if governments strengthen investments and policy reforms.

“Access to modern energy starts with two fundamentals: clean cooking and electricity. Since 2010, 800 million people have gained access to electricity, showing that with the right policies, progress is possible,” Birol said.

The report also highlighted a major financing gap, noting that public financial flows for clean energy in developing countries rose only slightly to $24.6 billion in 2024, while support to the poorest countries dropped by 11 per cent.

The Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, Valerie Levkov, warned that millions are being left behind, especially in Africa.

“Electricity demand is growing rapidly, yet millions still live without access, with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the greatest burden and missing out on opportunities for economic growth, jobs and development,” she said.

Despite the setbacks, the report recorded progress in renewable energy, with clean sources now accounting for over 30 per cent of global electricity generation.

The Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, Francesco La Camera, said countries with strong renewable energy systems are better able to withstand economic shocks and supply disruptions.

The findings reinforce the urgent link between energy poverty and disease burden, particularly in low-income communities where access to safe cooking and electricity remains out of reach.

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