FOREWORD 1 The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development001 1.1 Major Challenges Facing Sustainable Human Development002 1.1.1 Sustainable Economic Development002 1.1.2 Sustainable Social Development004 1.1.3 Sustainable Environmental Development007 1.2 The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development012 1.2.1 The History of Sustainable Development013 1.2.2 Proposals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development014 1.2.3 The 2030 Agenda: Progress and Reflection017 References026 2 Global Energy Interconnection027 2.1 Energy's Overall Effect on Sustainable Development029 2.1.1 Energy and Economic Sustainable Development029 2.1.2 Energy and Social Sustainable Development030 2.1.3 Energy and Environmental Sustainable Development031 2.2 Accelerating the Energy Transition for Sustainable Development033 2.3 GEI Accelerates the Global Energy Transition035 2.3.1 Clean Energy037 2.3.2 UHV Grid039 2.3.3 Smart Grid042 2.3.4 Energy System Reform via GEI043 2.4 Conditions for Global Energy Interconnection044 2.4.1 Technological Feasibility044 2.4.2 Economic Competitiveness048 2.4.3 Political Consensus049 2.5 The Road Ahead for Global Energy Interconnection051 References058 3 GEI Alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development059 3.1 Global Poverty Relief066 3.2 Food Security069 3.3 Good Health and Well-being071 3.4 Fair and Inclusive Quality Education073 3.5 Gender Equality076 3.6 Clean Water and Sanitation078 3.7 Sustainable Energy for All081 3.8 New Drivers of Economic Growth083 3.9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure085 3.10 Reducing National and Regional Inequalities090 3.11 Clean, Low-carbon Smart Cities093 3.12 Sustainable Consumption and Production096 3.13 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation099 3.14 Protecting Marine Ecology101 3.15 Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems102 3.16 World Peace and Harmony105 3.17 Global Cooperation106 References109 4 GEI Action on the 2030 Agenda111 4.1 GEI Research and Practice112 4.2 Practices and Achievements of Energy Interconnection in China123 4.2.1 Practices of China's Energy Interconnection123 4.2.2 Thoughts and Outlook on China Energy Interconnection131 4.2.3 China Energy Interconnection Effectively Will Boost Sustainable Economic and Social Development135 4.3 Ten Actions for GEI to Implement the 2030 Agenda138 4.3.1 Concept Promotion139 4.3.2 Clean Development140 4.3.3 Power Grid Interconnection147 4.3.4 Universal Electricity Access161 4.3.5 Electricity Replacement163 4.3.6 Smart Grid166 4.3.7 Energy Efficiency Enhancement168 4.3.8 Driving Innovation171 4.3.9 Capacity Building174 4.3.10 Policy Support174 References176 5 Mechanisms of GEI Cooperation177 5.1 Major Mechanisms for International Energy Cooperation178 5.2 Mechanisms of GEI Cooperation182 5.2.1 Global Energy Planning183 5.2.2 Transnational Project Construction183 5.2.3 Integrated Electricity-Carbon Trade185 5.2.4 Power Interconnection Coordination187 5.2.5 Energy Development Assistance189 5.2.6 Collaboration in Technical Standards190 References192 6 GEI and Sustainable Human Development193 6.1 Sustainable Energy Development Realized194 6.2 Sustainable Economic Development Realized196 6.3 Sustainable Social Development Realized198 6.4 Sustainable Environmental Development Realized200 References202