The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) participated in the High-Level Dialogue on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), held in Geneva and organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), as part of the preparatory process for the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), where global progress on sustainable energy access will be reviewed.
Representing OLACDE, Gloria Alvarenga, Director of Integration, Access and Energy Security, participated in the working session, where she highlighted that for Latin America and the Caribbean, SDG 7 is not only an energy goal, but a fundamental pillar for economic development, social equity, and resilience in the region.
During her intervention, she noted that Latin America and the Caribbean have one of the cleanest electricity matrices in the world, with 67% renewable generation and electricity access exceeding 97%. However, she warned that significant gaps remain in terms of service reliability, energy affordability, and access to modern energy services, particularly in rural communities, indigenous populations, and vulnerable groups.
In this context, she stressed that the region’s current challenge is no longer only to expand electricity coverage, but to ensure that energy is affordable, reliable, and equitable. She also emphasized the need to accelerate investment to close structural gaps that limit the integration of renewable energy, noting that the region will require approximately 1,000 GW of new installed capacity and around USD 1.5 trillion in investment to meet decarbonization pathways and move toward sustainable energy systems.
She also highlighted that regional energy integration and South-South cooperation will be key tools to reduce costs, strengthen energy system resilience, and advance transformative solutions that will accelerate progress toward achieving SDG 7 in the region.
OLACDE’s participation in this dialogue is part of the Organization’s commitment to strengthening universal energy access, regional energy security, and the transition toward more sustainable energy systems, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda and in a global context marked by new climate, economic, and geopolitical challenges.
