Our work on SDG Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Learn about our recent progress and updates on how we're contributing to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states. It provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Find out more about our work across all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Research
Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods
The Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods was established in October 2023 and is funded by the Scottish Funding Council. Stirling’s Dr Jen Dickie co-leads the Decarbonising Heat theme, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions from heating systems - a major contributor to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. This research programme tackles technical, financial, and social challenges to moving away from fossil fuels toward low-carbon heating solutions and renewable energy systems. By bringing together academia, industry, government, and communities, the alliance aims to develop practical, scalable solutions that ensure affordability and accessibility for households.
JUST-systems: co-creating pathways to clean energy
JUST-Systems is a UKRI-funded £5.6 million, five-year research programme and part of the wider Scottish Research Alliance. Its mission is to place people and communities at the centre of the Net Zero transition, ensuring that solutions are inclusive and equitable. Delivered through a partnership between the Universities of Aberdeen, Stirling, Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Reading, and Warwick, the programme works closely with five regional case studies: Aberdeen, Clackmannanshire, East Ayrshire, Reading, and Wales.
At its core, JUST-Systems uses transdisciplinary methods and co-creation, combining advanced systems modelling with meaningful engagement across communities, civil society, businesses, local authorities, and governments. This collaborative approach aims to drive positive change in areas such as fuel poverty, local development, infrastructure planning, and the creation of healthy, sustainable places.
This work directly supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by promoting accessible, low-carbon energy solutions and ensuring that the transition to Net Zero benefits all households and communities.
Research highlights the human side of renewable energy transitions
Professor Clemens Hoffmann at the University of Stirling investigates how the global shift to renewable energy can be achieved in ways that are just, inclusive, and environmentally responsible. His work emphasizes that energy transitions are not only technical challenges but also social and political ones - requiring governance frameworks that protect communities and ecosystems.
For example, a publication in December 2023 highlights the shift from fossil fuels to renewables in the eastern mediterranean and how growth in green finance have accelerated the transition. It also highlights that China is a key leader in renewables investing heavily in solar projects in other countries such as Egypt.
Understanding the ecological impact of solar energy is vital to achieving truly sustainable development. Researchers investigating ground-mounted solar developments in the UK found that these installations can significantly reduce bat activity, especially in open fields and along hedgerows. As many bat species are protected or threatened, this research highlights the need to balance clean energy goals with biodiversity protection. By informing planning policies and environmental assessments, this work supports SDG 7 by promoting renewable energy solutions that are not only affordable and clean - but also ecologically responsible.
Learning and teaching
Environmental justice and low carbon transitions PhD studentships
The University of Stirling’s Centre for Environment, Heritage and Policy leads cutting-edge research into how societies can respond to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution in ways that are fair, inclusive, and sustainable. The Environmental Justice and Low Carbon Transitions research cluster brings together experts from politics, law, ecology, and social sciences to explore the human impacts of decarbonisation and environmental policy. Through 4 Stirling funded interdisciplinary PhD studentships, the cluster investigates how power, policy, and place shape environmental outcomes - and works to develop innovative solutions that support both people and the planet. This work directly contributes to the SDG 7 by promoting just and equitable energy transitions.
MSc Global Environmental Sustainability
The University of Stirling will launch its MSc Global Environmental Sustainability in 2026 with applications open now. The course equips students with the knowledge and skills to tackle urgent global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and energy transitions. Through interdisciplinary teaching and real-world case studies, the programme explores how societies can shift to low-carbon futures in ways that are socially just and environmentally responsible. By examining energy policy, sustainable development, and climate governance, the course directly supports SDG 7 - promoting access to clean, affordable energy while preparing graduates to lead in the transition to a more sustainable world.
LLM Environmental Law and Climate Justice
The University offers an LLM Environmental Law and Climate Justice. The main focus of this course is how the growing pressure on natural resources has prompted a re-evaluation of traditional approaches to addressing the challenges and seeking opportunities, including mitigating climate change, halting and restoring biodiversity and habitat loss, sustainable development and replacing conventional forms of energy (oil, gas, coal), as well as a search for new and renewable ones via energy transition.
University operations
Stirling powers ahead with clean energy upgrades
In 2024, the University of Stirling made a major investment in its journey toward net zero by installing solar panels across key campus buildings, including the Cottrell Building, Campus Central, and the Sports Centre. This £2.7 million initiative - fully funded by the Scottish Funding Council - is set to generate clean electricity and significantly reduce the University’s carbon footprint.
Complementing the solar rollout, Stirling has been upgrading lighting across its estate, replacing outdated fluorescent fittings with energy-efficient LEDs. Notable projects include floodlighting for artificial sports pitches and a full lighting replacement in the Pathfoot Building, delivering an annual carbon reduction of approximately 25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. The University is also installing air source heat pumps to further cut emissions, and its main university website is completely run on renewable energy.
These efforts support Stirling’s ambitious climate targets: a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025, 85% by 2035, and full net zero by 2040. They also contribute directly to UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by expanding access to renewable energy and showcasing how institutions can lead the way in building a low-carbon future.
Civic engagement
Net zero support for business
The University of Stirling’s Business Engagement team hosted a range of events designed to connect businesses with academic expertise, foster innovation, and support sustainable growth. These events brought together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to explore pressing topics such as net zero planning, low-carbon transitions, and regional development.
In the past year alone a total of 23 events took place including workshops on climate action planning, collaborative forums with local councils, and knowledge exchange activities that help businesses navigate environmental challenges and seize new opportunities. By facilitating these events, Stirling contributes SDG 7 empowering businesses to adopt cleaner technologies and build resilient, future-ready operations.
Students bridging the gap in sustainability education with local organisations
The Net Zero Business Support programme works in partnership with external organisations to deliver one-to-one and one-to-many interventions that educate and inspire climate action. Beginning in 2024, funded through UK Shared Prosperity Funding leveraged through Stirling Council, the programme supports the region in building capacity for carbon reduction planning.
The programme consists of a cohort of six Net Zero Business Support Interns, from undergraduate, postgraduate and recent graduate backgrounds and takes them through an intensive six-week programme of training to upskill and build confidence in using industry recognised tools to develop carbon reduction plans. Once the training is complete, each intern is assigned to a business to provide one-to-one support, develop a plan and add staffing capacity as a sustainability support officer for a minimum of 4 and maximum of eight weeks. The project helps to bridge academia to the wider local business landscape as well as providing joint benefit for students and SMEs.
Students from our MSc Environmental Management course bring their skills and knowledge to organisations to tackle energy sustainability related challenges. This include projects such as Natural Power which included a socioeconomic impact assessment of renewable energy projects and work with Clackmannanshire council on investigating hidden fuel poverty.