Energy is a key driver of sustainable development and is often described as the ‘golden thread’ that links most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda pledge to ‘leave no one behind’.
As per the Ipieca Principles, Ipieca members support the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as embodied by the SDGs.
Members work to provide access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, which is essential for economic growth, employment, education, poverty reduction, and health and safety. Many have adopted internal initiatives and targets to maximise their contributions to the SDGs, including aligning with the Ipieca-WBCSD SDG Roadmap.
Were identified as the top 5 priority SDGs for members in 2024*
bp, Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies have announced a joint USD 500 million investment to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (UN SDG7), which aims to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all. This collaboration seeks to address the growing issue of energy access, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South, and Southeast Asia, where millions still lack electricity and clean cooking solutions.
In 2022, the number of people without access to electricity rose to 685 million, and around 2.1 billion people, mostly in developing regions, remain without clean cooking facilities. The investment from the four energy majors aims to support projects that will provide solar home systems, mini/metro grids, and clean cooking solutions, among others, to underserved communities. These initiatives are expected to not only help meet the energy needs of millions but also generate co-benefits like job creation and improved health outcomes.
The joint initiative will be managed by a global private equity firm with a proven track record in impact investing. Their expertise will direct the funds towards high-impact solutions while ensuring a balance of social impact and financial returns. The companies plan to engage with governments, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to overcome market barriers and accelerate progress in the energy access sector.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards achieving global energy access and tackling energy poverty, contributing directly to UN SDG7.
At the Clean Cooking Summit organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA), TotalEnergies announced its ambition to provide 100 million people in Africa and India with access to clean cooking by 2030. To achieve this, the company will invest over EUR 400 million in expanding liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution and developing innovative digital pay-as-you-cook technologies. This payment model allows users to pay only for the LPG they consume, making clean cooking more affordable.
Globally, over 2.3 billion people rely on traditional stoves using wood and charcoal, contributing to severe health risks, gender inequality, and environmental degradation. By expanding access to LPG, TotalEnergies supports:
Health improvements by reducing household air pollution, a major cause of respiratory diseases and premature deaths, especially among women in sub-Saharan Africa
Gender equality, as clean cooking saves time otherwise spent collecting firewood, enabling women to pursue education, employment, and entrepreneurship
Environmental benefits, with universal clean cooking access projected to prevent up to 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030—equivalent to annual emissions from the global air and maritime industries.
| Title | Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Accelerating action: an SDG Roadmap for the oil and gas sector | Good practice guidance | |
*Based on voluntary responses to the Ipieca sustainability reporting survey: https://www.ipieca.org/survey-highlights