Energy vulnerability and pathway towards sustainable energy systems in the Arab region

Abstract

Abstract Energy vulnerability in the Arab region is linked to various environmental challenges, including water shortage and desertification, as well as accelerating demand for energy which remains largely unchecked, among others. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 addresses these cross-cutting issues by setting targets for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. This article aims to show that progress towards achieving this goal’s targets within the Arab region is currently offtrack, due to a variety of challenges. These include lack of energy demand management needed to decouple energy consumption from economic growth; much required structural and economic reforms, including diversification; lack of long-term planning and technological awareness; and insufficient access to financing. To overcome these problems and address energy vulnerability, Arab countries should integrate sustainable energy as a fundamental element of national development strategies and embrace circular carbon economy principles within the context of SDG 7. Integrated approaches to energy sector management are required, and topics such as natural resources governance and environmental protection should be elevated within domestic policy agendas.