Missão energética: complexidade econômica e os objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

In view of the global climate commitment and the scarcity of natural resources, in the last two decades (2000-2020), the efforts of member countries of the United Nations (UN) to adopt a sustainable development agenda, also defined as Agenda 2030, have been noticeable. Among these efforts, the decarbonization of the energy sector stands out in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose current activity, which is intensive in fossil fuels, has contributed to the high levels of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in different economies. Explicitly referenced in SDG Nº. 7, one of the objectives established by the UN is to “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”. Indispensable for the formulation of energy policies, SDG Nº. 7 establishes solutions and responses to a series of current pressing challenges, because, although the term sustainable development already appeared in the 1980s – with the Brundtland Report –, the debate on “energy missions” only gained momentum in a context recent, with the development of national and international agreements, measures, and policies. In this context, the aim of this paper is to discuss insights into sustainable development, technological innovation, and economic complexity within the energy sector. Specifically, expanding understanding of key interactions related to SDG Nº. 7, as well as its dependencies on time, governance, technology, and directionality. Made possible by different economies, the “energy mission” refers to a set of objectives and actions aimed at transforming the current energy system into a more sustainable, efficient, and clean model, that is, a paradigm shift. In this work, it was possible to verify the importance of reaching the SDGs, as well as the role of technological innovation and economic complexity for the transformation of the energy sector.