Global Campaign Demands Clean Energy and Safe Cooking for Billions

A global push for cleaner energy took centre stage this week as Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) marked the 3rd International Day of Clean Energy. The organisation launched a 24-hour digital campaign, calling on people worldwide to support sustainable energy solutions. Events in Lagos and Vienna highlighted urgent challenges, from cooking pollution to electricity shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa.

SEforALL's campaign, titled 24 Hours for Clean Energy, encouraged online participation to promote Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). Supporters shared messages under the hashtags #InternationalDayOfCleanEnergy and #CleanEnergyDay, creating a unified call for action.

In Lagos, Nigeria, the focus was on clean cooking. A dedicated Clean Cooking Experience event aimed to speed up Nigeria's shift away from polluting fuels, which over 2.1 billion people still rely on. These fuels contribute to household air pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Meanwhile, in Vienna, Austria, SEforALL hosted a high-level gathering. Discussions centred on expanding clean cooking in schools and celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Universal Energy Facility. The event also explored new ways to fund electricity access, a critical issue in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where unreliable power limits economic growth and access to basic services.

The campaign brought together voices from Africa, Europe, and beyond to push for faster progress on clean energy. With millions still lacking safe cooking methods and reliable electricity, SEforALL's efforts aim to turn advocacy into tangible solutions. The events in Lagos and Vienna underscored the need for financing, innovation, and global cooperation to meet SDG7 targets.