7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
Energy is essential for human life. Energy issues are a fundamental and important issue for people to lead their social lives. In order to realize a sustainable society, it is necessary to actively tackle energy problems and seek solutions.
The SDGs require energy to be affordable (“for everyone” in Japanese) and clean. How you interpret 'affordable' and 'clean' undermines the very target. Different understandings of what is affordable and what is clean lead to different actions.
For whom is “affordable” affordable? What is affordable for the middle class in developed countries may not be affordable for the middle class in developing countries. If the gap between rich and poor is large, a price that is affordable for a country's median income household can be out of reach for many people. If the price is to be affordable even for the poor in developing countries, the price must be lowered considerably. If we are to make energy affordable for all, we may have to start by reducing the gap between rich and poor between and within countries.
What if the goal were replaced with the phrase "energy for all" instead of "affordable energy" as in the Japanese sentence? The goal of "energy for everyone" reflects the idea that energy should not be monopolized by one person, but should be shared fairly by everyone. In other words, I feel that it includes the idea of preventing the wealthy class from monopolizing energy so that everyone can use energy at an affordable price. I don't know what the person who translated the SDGs "affordable" as "for everyone" meant, so I can't say anything, but if this goal is a fair distribution of energy, different action from the goal of "making it affordable". will be required.
What kind of energy is “clean” energy? Is nuclear power clean, is solar power clean, is wind power really clean energy? Or are they causing environmental damage that we don't know about? Is there an objective and correct indicator of whether energy is clean?
Depending on what kind of energy is judged to be clean, the action to be taken will differ greatly.
Energy issues are also an important issue that cannot be neglected in corporate activities. The direction of dealing with energy issues is a delicate matter that can change depending on the times and social trends. In conducting activities as a company, we are required to be sensitive to changes in the times regarding delicate issues related to energy and to take measures that are ahead of the times. In addition, it would be desirable to understand the current state of energy problems not only in the main areas of activity but also in overseas expansion destinations, etc., and to support activities to improve them.
The United Nations has set five specific targets for "Affordable and Clean Energy". In order to actually achieve the goal of "Affordable and clean energy", let's take a look at these targets and think about them.
7.1 By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
Universal access to cheap, reliable and modern energy is fundamental and important to people's lives.
As a company, it is important to understand the current state of the amount of energy consumed in business activities, make future predictions, and strive to secure energy while improving efficiency, that is, reducing the amount of energy consumed to achieve the same goal. It would also be a good idea to carry out support activities to improve the energy situation in the regions where we operate or overseas.
7.1 Draft Course of Action
・"Understand the current state of the amount of energy consumed in business activities, make future predictions, and strive to secure energy while improving efficiency, that is, reducing the amount of energy consumed to achieve the same purpose. We will continue to carry out support activities to improve the energy situation in overseas markets.”
7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
The energy mix generally refers to the composition ratio of oil, coal, gas, hydraulic power, nuclear power, solar heat, etc. as energy used for power generation. Countries usually decide their energy mix by taking into consideration costs, supply risks, and safety. Here, renewable energy refers to energy sources such as hydropower, solar power, wind power, geothermal power, and biomass. Renewable energy is characterized by its low impact on environmental pollution and global warming due to the generation of greenhouse gases due to its combustion. And since it is not mined in limited places such as oil-producing areas, it has the advantage of being less likely to cause conflicts. On the other hand, it is susceptible to weather and other factors, making it difficult to maintain a stable supply and adjust its output. Although it is limited to Japan, there are issues such as the high cost of power generation, and depending on the power generation method, it is not necessarily environmentally friendly.
The SDGs position this renewable energy as "clean" energy, and aim to significantly increase its share.
As a company, it is an important issue to work on the expansion and cost reduction of renewable energy. It would also be a good idea to carry out support activities to improve the renewable energy situation in the regions where we operate and overseas.
7.2 Draft Course of Action
・"We will work on the expansion and cost reduction of renewable energy. We will also carry out support activities to improve the situation of renewable energy in the regions where we operate and overseas."
7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is the energy available for the energy used. Improving energy efficiency means eliminating energy waste and using it more effectively.
"Double the improvement rate" is a rather crude goal. If the current technology is underdeveloped and power generation is inefficient, it would be easy to introduce new technology and double the improvement rate. However, if you have already introduced the latest technology and are generating electricity at a high efficiency that is close to the theoretical limit in physics, it may not be possible to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency from there.
As a company, it is important to know how much energy is consumed in business activities and how effectively it is used. After understanding the current situation, make a plan and work on improvement activities. It would also be a good idea to carry out support activities to improve energy efficiency in the regions in which we operate or overseas.
7.3 Draft Course of Action
・"Understand the current situation regarding how much energy is consumed in business activities and how effectively it is used, then formulate a plan and work on improvement activities. In addition, we will carry out support activities to improve energy efficiency in the regions where we operate and overseas."
7.a By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
Advanced and correct science and technology research and technological development are indispensable for tackling energy problems. In order not to make wrong decisions based on wrong knowledge, it would be desirable to promote international cooperation so that people can access the latest research technology.
As a company, it would be preferable to actively consider investing in the development of clean energy technology, and to promote information exchange and more accurate use of knowledge with research institutes and companies in the regions where they operate and overseas.
7.a Draft Course of Action
・"We will positively consider investment in clean energy technology development, and promote information exchange and more accurate utilization of knowledge with research institutes and companies in the regions where we operate and overseas."
7.b By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support
It seeks to help developing countries to provide modern and sustainable energy services. The aim is to provide infrastructure and technical assistance to developing countries so that they do not fall behind technologically or economically and experience major problems with their energy services.
It is desirable for companies to try not to aggravate the regional energy situation when expanding into developing countries, and to participate in cooperation and support in energy infrastructure and technology.
7.b Draft Course of Action
・"When expanding into developing countries, we will try not to worsen the regional energy situation, and participate in cooperation and support in energy infrastructure and technology."
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