8. COVID-19 大流行是人人获得能源进展缓慢的主要原因。全球仍有 7.33 亿人缺乏电力，24 亿人仍在使用有害健康和环境的燃料做饭。按照目前的进展速度，到 2030 年，仍将有 6.7 亿人缺电，比去年的预测增加 1 000 万。2022 年《追踪可持续发展目标 7——能源进展报告》显示，大流行的影响，包括封城、全球供应链中断、财政资源转用于保持粮食和燃料价格可以承受，影响了实现可持续发展目标 7 的速度。在一些国家，特别是最脆弱国家和能源获取已经落后的国家，进展受到阻碍。在亚洲和非洲，获得供电的近 9 000 万人无力支付基本能源需求。
8. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a key factor in slowing progress towards universal energy access. Globally, 733 million people still have no access to electricity, and 2.4 billion people still cook using fuels detrimental to their health and the environment. At the current rate of progress, 670 million people will remain without electricity by 2030 – 10 million more than projected last year. The 2022 edition of Tracking SDG 7 – The Energy Progress Report shows that the impacts of the pandemic, including lockdowns, disruptions to global supply chains and the diversion of fiscal resources to keep food and fuel prices affordable, have affected the pace of progress towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7. Advances have been impeded particularly in the most vulnerable countries and those already lagging behind in energy access. Nearly 90 million people in Asia and Africa who had previously gained access to electricity can no longer afford to pay for their basic energy needs.