SDG 7 · Affordable and Clean Energy

655 million people still live without electricity.

Eco Heroes turns that fact into a story an 8-year-old can hold onto: A Furrowed Brow, book 7 of 17 in the SDG Library.

Unlock all 17 books, first month free → Read SDG 1 free

The target, in plain language

What the UN actually promised

Target 7.1

By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

Modern energy means reliable electricity and clean cooking, not firewood, charcoal or kerosene smoke inside the home.

Target 7.2 asks the world to substantially increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

Why it matters

The number behind the story

655M

people were living without electricity in 2024 On current trends, around 1.8 billion people will still rely on polluting fuels and technologies to cook in 2030.

Source: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, UN DESA. Figures as published in July 2026.

The story

A Furrowed Brow

Written by Ricardo Alcántara (Premio Lazarillo) · Illustrated by Matías Acosta

Book 7 of 17 in the Eco Heroes SDG Library, one illustrated story for each UN Sustainable Development Goal. Unlocked with any Eco Heroes plan (families from €79 a year), and every plan starts with a free month. Published in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Catalan.

Bring it into the room

Talk about it, try it

Discuss

One question to ask after reading

“What would you miss first in a home with no electricity after dark? And what would you do instead?”

Try it: 15 minutes

Run a power audit

Walk around your home or classroom and list everything that's plugged in. Sort it into “need”, “nice to have” and “could switch off right now”, then switch one thing off together.

Seventeen goals, seventeen stories

Every SDG gets its own illustrated book, its own facts and its own activities. SDG 1 is always free. The rest unlock with a family, school or hotel plan.

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