Far away from the news headlines, 770 million people across the globe cannot turn on a light switch and get power in their house. They cannot get a light to go on when the sun sets, or a fan to start despite unbearable heat, or oven to work when making a meal. Not just after a flood, or an earthquake, or a storm, or during times of conflict, but every single day. This is their daily reality. This impacts their lives, their incomes, their education, their food, their health and every single aspect of their lives. They are deprived of something basic: access to energy. If we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by world leaders in 2015, with a rapidly approaching deadline, this needs to change. But how?

A just energy transition is the answer. It means putting people and communities at the centre of our transition. It underpins both climate adaptation and climate mitigation. The transition must take place in the broader context of sustainable human development – in a way that it truly leaves no one behind, brings people out of poverty, reduces social inequalities, supports human rights, and serves the wider public interest, rather than promote the interests of specific groups. 

Recognizing the centrality of energy to climate goals, as part of their nationally determined contributions, countries have pledged to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. And UNDP has pledged to work with countries to ensure progress by scaling up action on climate change.

The commitment to Leave No One Behind, is not just a slogan. It requires increasing energy access to those who are furthest behind, hardest to reach and living in crisis situations. In this context, UNDP and its partners have pledged to provide clean and affordable energy for 500 million more people by 2025. It also requires improving energy efficiency, as well as accelerating the energy transition by capitalizing on clean energy technologies, innovating business models and developing new strategies for private sector investments.

There is no silver bullet. To achieve their challenging energy goals, countries will require governance institutions, frameworks, policies, programmes and processes to work together to support this transition. UNDP is committed to supporting countries to strengthen their energy governance and is recommending four actionable priorities:  

• Inclusive and effective institutions, which are the essential foundation of achieving energy priorities of the 21^st century. Institutions need to be responsive, accountable, trustworthy and transparent, and able to act in a more coordinated way across the whole of government to address intersecting challenges or opportunities in society. Strengthening the capacities and capabilities of institutions is needed to ensure that they are playing their part in the most efficient and effective manner.     
• A legal and regulatory framework which creates a conducive enabling environment to promote renewable energy, encourage private investments, support new clean energy innovations and foster innovative business models for the energy sector. Legal frameworks also need clearly defined enforcement mechanisms with clear responsibilities and obligations of all stakeholders to ensure the protection of people from new risks, such as cyber related risks.
• Civic engagement and empowerment is a must to ensure a successful energy transition from a whole-of-society perspective. Protecting and enhancing civic space, by empowering citizens and communities to participate in problem diagnosis and co-create energy solutions is critical, including via creating platforms that enhance innovation. The voices of women, youth, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and others who are often excluded from public policymaking, yet most impacted, must be incorporated into energy decision-making processes.  
• Appropriate oversight, including through national parliaments and their committees, and independent agencies, ombudspersons, human rights commissions, anticorruption agencies, investigation and judiciary bodies, and consumer commissions which play an important role in the energy governance of 21^st century by ensuring compliance with fundamental rights and standards.