About the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
We are a global group of companies, policymakers, investors, and organizations on a mission to realize a 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy future for all. This means meeting every kilowatt-hour of electricity demand with Carbon-Free Energy sources, every hour, every day, everywhere.
Working together
Through the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact, we are working together to develop and scale high-impact technologies, energy policies, procurement practices, and solutions to make 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy achievable for all and accelerate the global transition to Carbon-Free Energy systems.
Committed to a carbon-free energy future
In September 2021, during the High-Level Dialogue on Energy, an initial list of founding signatories committed to working toward a carbon-free future for all by launching the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact.
Energy Compacts are voluntary commitments from Member States and non-state actors to take specific actions that advance progress on Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Energy Compacts were mobilized by UN-Energy as part of the High-level Dialogue on Energy in September 2021. They will continue to be mobilized and updated throughout the current Decade of Action. All Compacts are designed to be in line with SDG Acceleration Actions and Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Climate Agreement.
The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy movement is coordinated by Sustainable Energy for All, the United Nations, and a growing list of signatories from companies, organizations, and governments around the world. The Compact is an ambitious global effort to accelerate the decarbonization of the world’s electricity systems to mitigate climate change and ensure access to clean and affordable electricity for all, in line with SDG7.
Principles of 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy
24/7 Carbon-Free Energy means that every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumption is met with carbon-free electricity sources at every hour of every day, everywhere. It is based on the following principles:
- Time-matched procurement: matching hourly electricity consumption with carbon-free electricity generation. Hourly matching helps connect clean energy purchasing to underlying electricity consumption.
- Local procurement: purchasing clean energy on the local/regional electricity grids where electricity consumption occurs. This is the only way to drive the electricity-related emissions that a consumer is directly responsible for to zero.
- Technology-inclusive: recognizing the need to create zero-carbon electricity systems as quickly as possible. All Carbon-Free Energy technologies can play a role in creating this future.
- Enabling new generation: focusing on delivering additional Carbon-Free Energy to drive the rapid decarbonization of electricity systems.
- Maximizing system impact: addressing the dirtiest hours of electricity consumption where the most fossil fuel is used in generation.
Sectors leading the way
Signatories joining together to respond to the urgent need to drive rapid decarbonization by adopting 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy include:
- Energy buyers
- Energy suppliers
- Local, regional and national governments
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charities
- Energy advisors
- Trade associations
- System operators
- Technology solutions providers
- Investors and financial organizations
- Academic institutions and scientific community
About Sustainable Energy for All
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Now an independent organization, Sustainable Energy for All maintains close links with the UN, including through a relationship agreement, partnerships with UN agencies and with our CEO acting as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
Meet our signatories
