“ sustainable and modern energy for all, SDG5 has the lowest number of AI-enabled use cases, with only 10 out of approximately 600 cases identified.
By 2030, an estimated 341 million women and girls will still lack electricity, with 85 percent of them in Sub-Saharan Africa
This imbalance is further highlighted by stark funding imbalances: between 2018 and 2023, total AI grant funding for SDG7 amounted to only USD 0.03 billion, while SDG5 received just USD 0.04 billion. Similarly, in private sector investment, USD 49 billion was directed towards AI applications for SDG7, compared to a negligible USD 0.62 billion for SDG5. This disparity is concerning considering that lack of energy access disproportionately affects women and girls. UN Women has reported that if current trends continue, by 2030, an estimated 341 million women and girls will still lack electricity, with 85 percent of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. A transformative yet complex landscape The intersection of gender, energy, and artificial intelligence (AI) presents a transformative yet complex landscape in the global pursuit of sustainable development. The report underscores the importance of addressing these interrelated domains, highlighting both the challenges and the potential for meaningful progress. AI emerges as a key enabler in addressing global challenges, with its capacity to process vast amounts of data, enhance decision-making, and optimise resource allocation.
Its application spans numerous areas within sustainable energy, from designing mini-grids for rural electrification to improving the efficiency of renewable energy grids. However, the unequal distribution of these benefits and persistent gender disparities create significant barriers to realising AI’s full potential. Women, particularly those in low-income and developing regions, often lack access to the resources, education, and infrastructure needed to benefit from or contribute to these technologies. This disparity is not only a missed opportunity but also a challenge that risks entrenching existing inequalities.
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THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
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