From Dependence to Resilience: Integrated Approaches to Scaling Renewable-Based Transport and Energy Systems
REN21 has contributed to the SDG7 Policy Briefs in Support of the High-Level Political Forum 2026, a series of policy briefs developed by the SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group and convened by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
The briefs bring together expertise from across the United Nations system and partner organisations to guide policy-makers towards accelerated action on SDG7 and its links with other sustainable development priorities.
REN21 reviewed a series of thematic policy briefs and regional analyses and led the development of the SDG7-SDG11 Policy Brief on Energy and Sustainable Cities, alongside FAO, GEIDCO, SLOCAT and UN-Habitat.
The briefs are released at a critical moment ahead of the HLPF review of SDG7 on 7 July 2026. Despite progress, action towards universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy remains too slow and uneven.
The message from the Energy and Sustainable Cities brief is clear: SDG7 and SDG11 must be advanced together.
Cities are at the heart of the energy transition. They account for around 75% of global energy use and more than 70% of CO₂ emissions. They are also home to growing climate risks, especially for the 1.1 billion people living in informal urban settlements. This makes cities critical entry points for action.
Accelerating renewable energy across buildings, transport and food systems can reduce emissions and air pollution, lower energy costs, improve public health and strengthen energy security.
Sustainable and equitable urban energy systems require coordinated urban, energy and climate planning. They also require sustained public and private investment to overcome upfront costs and unlock long-term social, economic and environmental benefits.
With nearly two-thirds of SDG targets requiring action at the local level, cities can drive progress not only on SDG7 and SDG11, but also on health, gender equality, decent work, climate action and resilience.
The final push towards 2030 must be local, coordinated and renewables-based.
