UN Chief Declares Fossil Fuel Age “Flailing and Failing”, Urges World to Embrace Clean Energy Future

New York – In a powerful address titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a compelling call to action for global leaders to accelerate the clean energy transition and leave behind the fossil fuel era.

Speaking at UN Headquarters, Guterres emphasized that the world stands on the cusp of a transformative energy revolution. “Fossil fuels are running out of road,” he said. “The sun is rising on a clean energy age.”

He cited new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), revealing that solar energy is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels, while offshore wind is 53% cheaper. In 2024, clean energy investment reached $2 trillion – $800 billion more than fossil fuels, with renewables accounting for nearly all new power capacity globally.

“This is not just a shift in power,” Guterres asserted. “This is a shift in possibility… in repairing our relationship with the climate, in creating jobs, securing public health, and delivering affordable energy for all.”

The Secretary-General presented six priority actions to seize this historic opportunity:

1. Ambitious Climate Plans – Urging all countries, particularly G20 nations, to submit stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30 in Brazil. He invited world leaders to present their plans during the General Assembly’s High-Level Week in September.

2. Modern Energy Infrastructure – Calling for urgent investment in smart grids, energy storage, and electrification of transport and buildings to meet rising global electricity demand sustainably.

3. Sustainable AI and Tech Growth – Highlighting the massive energy consumption of data centers, Guterres challenged tech giants to power all operations with 100% renewables by 2030 and ensure sustainable water use in cooling systems.

4. A Just Transition for All – Emphasizing the need to protect workers, communities, and Indigenous Peoples through education, social safety nets, and fair treatment in critical mineral extraction.

5. Trade and Investment Reform – Urging reforms to global trade and investment systems to enable equitable access to clean technology and raw materials, including the removal of fossil fuel-protective clauses in outdated treaties.

6. Financing the Transition – Stressing the urgent need to reform international finance, increase support from multilateral development banks, and mobilize private capital for developing nations. “Africa, with 60% of the world’s best solar resources, received just 2% of clean energy investment last year,” he noted.

Despite progress, Guterres warned that the transition remains uneven and too slow. He criticized the fossil fuel lobby for obstructing change and said, “Countries clinging to fossil fuels are not protecting their economies – they are sabotaging them.”

He concluded with a resounding message:
“The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing. We are in the dawn of a new energy era. Let’s make the most of it. This is our moment of opportunity.”

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The speech signals a decisive shift in the UN’s climate diplomacy strategy as the world prepares for COP30, amid growing urgency to keep global warming within the 1.5°C target.