Progress on SDG 7 achieved by EU countries in relation to the target year 2030: A multidimensional indicator analysis...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Energy Policy
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by 193 UN members in 2015, outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• SDG 7 aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.
• Eurostat tracks progress on SDG 7 using seven key indicators within the European Union.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the progress of individual EU countries towards achieving SDG 7 between 2010 and 2021.
• To determine the remaining distance for each EU country relative to the 2030 SDG 7 targets.
• To analyze the convergence or divergence of EU countries' progress on SDG 7.

Main Methods:

• Utilized seven Eurostat indicators to monitor and assess SDG 7 progress.
• Developed an aggregate index using a dynamic relative taxonomy and geometric mean.
• Applied adjusted data and target values to mitigate the compensation effect in country rankings.

Main Results:

• Systematic progress towards SDG 7 was observed across the EU from 2010 to 2021.
• The disparities in progress among EU countries have significantly decreased during the study period.
• Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and Austria show the smallest distance to the SDG 7 target.
• Malta demonstrated the most substantial progress, with Cyprus, Latvia, Belgium, Ireland, and Poland also showing significant advancements.

Conclusions:

• The EU is collectively moving towards achieving SDG 7, with increasing convergence among member states.
• Targeted policies and national efforts have led to notable improvements, particularly in countries that started with greater challenges.
• Continued monitoring and tailored strategies are essential to ensure all EU countries meet the 2030 SDG 7 goals.