Affordable and Clean Energy

As the planet reaches a climate tipping point amid major energy shocks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered remarks at London Climate Action Week, calling for widespread adoption of renewable energy through a seven-point plan.

Governments are reporting the highest levels of satisfaction with UN development support since reforms of the development system began nearly a decade ago. But continued progress will depend on sustained political engagement and more predictable financing.

Young leaders across the globe are solving environmental and human development challenges by improving how people interact with nature, valuing diverse ways of thinking and enabling more inclusive participation in shaping solutions.

Contending with unreliable electricity, a hospital in Zimbabwe is receiving support from the Joint SDG Fund and partners to implement clean energy installations that will ensure service continuity and offer a model to other health facilities.

With an energy system facing longstanding challenges, the Philippines and the UN are working together both nationally and in local communities to implement clean energy solutions, improve efficiency, strengthen resilience and ensure an inclusive green transition.

With support from the UN and partners, a new solar-powered borehole in Kenya's Wajir County is bringing clean water closer to home for over 9,200 people and thousands of livestock, easing daily hardship in the drought-prone region.

Amid the global transition to clean energy, strategic investments that address structural barriers can open doors for women and accelerate the shift toward sustainable energy, building economies and creating a greener and more innovative world for everyone.

UN agencies are coordinating with local and national authorities in Ukraine to combine emergency response with longer-term initiatives, ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable amid continuous energy disruptions.

With financing from the Joint SDG Fund, the UN is supporting farmers in Nkhundye to embrace clean energy technologies for household use and agro-processing, leading to improved food security, lower household costs and new market opportunities.

With UN support, Trinidad and Tobago is meeting the needs of health workers and patients by introducing disinfecting robots, solar-powered refrigerators and digital health records, presenting a cohesive story of innovation with purpose.

With financing from the Joint SDG Fund, the Resident Coordinator's Office in Djibouti and national partners are supporting a new solar energy programme that lights a path to more mini grids, knowledge exchanges and economic growth, ensuring a brighter future for all.

By allocating funds directly through the budgets of local governments, the UN is supporting communities in Bangladesh to access water and adapt to climate change while also ensuring women are instrumental in driving results.

The UN-supported Renewable Energy Innovation Fund worked with Uruguay and partners in securing both funding and private-public collaboration for Kahirós, the country's first large-scale initiative producing and using green hydrogen for heavy transport.

The Blue Peace Financing Initiative invests in solar-powered water kiosks and public toilets across Freetown with support from the UN and partners, providing a scalable model for inclusive, sustainable urban development and innovative financing.

Uruguay is rolling out a new clean energy motorbike with support from the UN and a unique financing model, proving how innovation, sustainability and smart financing can converge to accelerate a country’s green transition.