The global power sector's low-carbon transition may enhance sustainable development goal achievement

The low-carbon power transition, crucial for combating climate change, significantly impacts Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study assesses the transition's effects on 18 SDG targets across 49 economies under nine scenarios. Results show that RCP2.6 scenarios improve the global SDG index score by approximately 11%, while RCP6.0 and RCP4.5 show significantly less improvement. Developed economies generally benefit, but resource-related SDG scores may decrease. International trade enhances developed economies' SDG progress but jeopardizes developing economies, often resource hubs for the transition.

Kun Peng, Kuishuang Feng, Bin Chen, Yuli Shan, Ning Zhang, Peng Wang, Kai Fang, Yanchao Bai, Xiaowei Zou, Wendong Wei, Xinyi Geng, Yiyi Zhang, Jiashuo Li