United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has declared that the era of fossil fuels is ending, urging nations and industries to embrace a new age of clean, renewable energy.
In a global broadcast titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age,” Guterres highlighted the transformative momentum building across the energy sector. “Fossil fuels are running out of road. The sun is rising on a clean energy age,” he said.
According to the UN chief, the world invested $2 trillion in clean energy in 2023—$800 billion more than fossil fuels—marking a nearly 70% increase over the past decade. He cited new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which shows solar energy is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels, while offshore wind is 53% less expensive. Over 90% of new renewable energy sources globally produced electricity more cost-effectively than the cheapest new fossil fuel alternatives.
“This is not just a shift in power; it is a shift in possibility,” Guterres emphasized. “Clean energy is now central to climate action, economic resilience, job creation, public health, and global development.”
Guterres unveiled a new multi-agency report backed by the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, OECD, and IRENA, which reviews global progress since the Paris Agreement and outlines the steps needed to accelerate a just energy transition.
According to the report:
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Renewable energy now nearly matches fossil fuels in global installed power capacity.
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Almost all new power generation capacity added in 2023 came from renewables.
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Renewables generated nearly one-third of global electricity last year.
Despite these advances, Guterres warned that fossil fuel interests continue to obstruct progress. “The fossil fuel lobby will try to delay this transition—but I have never been more confident they will fail. We have passed the point of no return.”
He outlined three compelling reasons why the clean energy shift is irreversible:
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Market Economics:
Clean energy now drives global growth, accounting for 10% of GDP growth in 2023. In China, the figure was 20%, while the EU saw nearly 33%. Clean energy jobs also now exceed fossil fuel employment, totaling nearly 35 million worldwide. -
Energy Security and Sovereignty:
Guterres argued that fossil fuels have become a liability, citing the global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “There are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on wind,” he said, adding that renewables enhance national stability and independence. -
Accessibility and Speed:
Unlike fossil infrastructure, solar and wind can be deployed rapidly and affordably, even in the most remote regions. “You can’t build a coal plant in someone’s backyard—but you can deliver solar panels to the most remote village on Earth,” he stated.
Guterres pointed to Africa’s immense potential, noting that by 2040, the continent could generate 10 times its electricity needs entirely from renewables.
He concluded with a call for collective action: “No government, no industry, no special interest can stop this transformation. It is time to supercharge the clean energy revolution—for people, for prosperity, and for the planet.”
