Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.

Relevant mandate:

Oversight and Accountability: National parliaments oversee government actions and hold them accountable for progress on the SDGs. They monitor the implementation of policies, evaluate the impact of programs, and review reports submitted by the government on SDG progress. Through rigorous reviews, inquiries, and legislative measures, parliaments can expose corrupt practices in the energy sector and establish strong anti-corruption measures. This scrutiny, combined with public pressure and the fear of consequences, deters officials from engaging in corrupt behavior, ensuring a more accountable, transparent, and efficient energy sector.

Example: The National Assembly of Suriname has a vital role as the main oversight body of the executive government, conducting audits of energy sector activities in order to avoid the deforestation of the pristine rain forest that covers 93% of Suriname – which serves as a carbon sink for the entire region and the world. Oversight by the legislative branch on the executive branch of Suriname, with regards to the energy sector, disincentivizes corruption by ensuring accountability, promoting transparency, and enforcing checks and balances.