The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has declared that the era of fossil fuels is coming to an end, as the world rapidly embraces clean and renewable energy sources.
In a global address titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age,” Guterres described the clean energy transition as both inevitable and irreversible, pointing to major investments and advances in renewable technologies.
“Fossil fuels are running out of road. The sun is rising on a clean energy age,” he said, adding that the clean energy revolution is now a “fact,” not just a vision. He noted that in 2023 alone, $2 trillion was invested in clean energy—$800 billion more than in fossil fuels, with solar and wind now significantly cheaper than traditional energy sources.
Highlighting new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Guterres said solar energy is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels, while offshore wind is 53% cheaper. Over 90% of new renewable projects generate electricity at lower costs than the cheapest fossil fuel options.
“This isn’t just a shift in power; it’s a shift in possibility,” he said. “Clean energy means smarter economics, better public health, millions of decent jobs, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Guterres unveiled a new UN report, developed in collaboration with global institutions such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), IMF, OECD, and the World Bank, which outlines progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement and the critical steps needed for a just global energy transition.
According to him, renewables are now nearly equal to fossil fuels in global installed power capacity. In 2023, most of the world’s newly built power infrastructure came from renewables, and nearly a third of global electricity was generated from clean sources.
“No government, no industry, no special interest can stop this momentum,” Guterres stated confidently. “The fossil fuel lobby will try, but I have never been more certain that they will fail. We have passed the point of no return.”
He identified three major forces driving this shift: market economics, energy security, and accessibility.
On market dynamics, Guterres explained that clean energy is now a powerful economic force, contributing significantly to GDP growth in countries like the United States (6%), India (5%), and China (20%). Clean energy jobs have surpassed those in the fossil fuel sector, now employing nearly 35 million people globally.
“Even Texas, the heart of America’s oil and gas industry, is now leading in renewables,” he added. Yet, he decried the continued global imbalance in subsidies, with fossil fuels enjoying a 9-to-1 advantage.
He warned that nations clinging to fossil fuels are “sabotaging their economies,” locking themselves into stranded assets and rising costs.
The second driver, he said, is energy security. “Fossil fuels are the greatest threat to energy stability today. They expose nations to price shocks and geopolitical turmoil—as seen during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Guterres said. In contrast, renewables provide consistent, local, and affordable energy without supply risks.
“No embargoes on wind. No price spikes for sunlight,” he said.
The third reason, he explained, is accessibility. Unlike large-scale coal or gas plants, solar and wind technologies can reach the most remote corners of the world. “You can’t build a coal plant in someone’s backyard, but you can deliver solar panels to the most remote village on earth,” Guterres said.
He emphasized that Africa, in particular, holds immense renewable potential. “By 2040, Africa could produce 10 times more electricity than it currently consumes—entirely from renewables.”
Guterres concluded by urging global action to accelerate the clean energy transition, stressing that the benefits of renewables far outweigh the costs of delay.
“The clean energy future is here. It is not a question of if, but how fast,” he said.
