In a special address at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Guterres cited surging clear power funding and plunging photo voltaic and wind prices that now outcompete fossil fuels.
“The power transition is unstoppable, however the transition shouldn’t be but quick sufficient or honest sufficient,” he stated.
The speech, A Second of Alternative: Supercharging the Clear Vitality Age – a comply with‑as much as final yr’s Second of Fact – was delivered alongside a brand new UN technical report drawing on world power and finance our bodies.
“Simply comply with the cash,” Mr. Guterres stated, noting that $2 trillion flowed into clear power final yr, $800 billion greater than fossil fuels and up virtually 70 per cent in a decade.
Key factors from the handle
- Level of no return – The world has irreversibly shifted in the direction of renewables, with fossil fuels coming into their decline
- Clear power surge – $2 trillion invested in clear power final yr, $800 billion greater than fossil fuels
- Value revolution – Photo voltaic now 41 per cent cheaper and offshore wind 53 per cent cheaper than fossil gasoline alternate options.
- World problem – Calls on G20 nations to align new nationwide local weather plans with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Settlement
- Vitality safety – Renewables guarantee “actual power sovereignty”
- Six alternative areas – Local weather plan ambition, trendy grids, sustainable demand, simply transition, commerce reform, and finance for rising markets.
A shift in chance
He famous new information from the Worldwide Renewable Vitality Company (IRENA) displaying photo voltaic, as soon as 4 instances costlier, is now 41 per cent cheaper than fossil fuels.
Equally, offshore wind is 53 per cent cheaper, with greater than 90 per cent of latest renewables worldwide beating the most cost effective new fossil various.
“This isn’t only a shift in energy. It’s a shift in chance,” he stated.
Renewables practically match fossil fuels in world put in energy capability, and “virtually all the brand new energy capability constructed” final yr got here from renewables, he stated, noting that each continent added extra clear energy than fossil fuels.
Clear power is unstoppable
Mr. Guterres underscored {that a} clear power future “is now not a promise, it’s a truth”. No authorities, no trade and no particular curiosity can cease it.
“In fact, the fossil gasoline foyer will attempt, and we all know the lengths to which they may go. However, I’ve by no means been extra assured that they may fail as a result of we’ve got handed the purpose of no return.”
He urged nations to lock ambition into the subsequent spherical of nationwide local weather plans, or NDCs, due inside months. Mr. Guterres referred to as on the G20 nations, that are chargeable for 80 per cent of emissions, to submit new plans aligned with the 1.5°C restrict and current them at a excessive‑degree occasion in September.
Targets, he added, should “double power effectivity and triple renewables capability by 2030” whereas accelerating “the transition away from fossil fuels”.
Secretary-Common António Guterres delivers a particular handle on Local weather Motion “A Second of Alternative: Supercharging the New Vitality Period”.
Actual power sovereignty
The Secretary-Common additionally highlighted the geopolitical dangers of fossil gasoline dependence.
“The best risk to power safety right this moment is fossil fuels,” he stated, citing value shocks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“There aren’t any value spikes for daylight, no embargoes on wind. Renewables imply actual power safety, actual power sovereignty and actual freedom from fossil-fuel volatility.”
Six alternative areas
Mr. Guterres mapped six “alternative areas” to hurry the transition: formidable NDCs, trendy grids and storage, assembly hovering demand sustainably, a simply transition for staff and communities, commerce reforms to broaden clear‑tech provide chains, and mobilising finance to rising markets.
Financing, nonetheless, is the choke level. Africa, dwelling to 60 per cent of the world’s greatest photo voltaic sources, obtained simply 2 per cent of world clear power funding final yr, he stated.
Just one in 5 clear power {dollars} over the previous decade went to rising and growing economies outdoors China. Flows should rise greater than five-fold by 2030 to maintain the 1.5-degree restrict alive and ship common entry.
Mr. Guterres urged reform of world finance, stronger multilateral improvement banks and debt aid, together with debt‑for‑local weather swaps.
“The fossil gasoline age is flailing and failing. We’re within the daybreak of a brand new power period,” he stated in closing.
“That world is inside attain, however it gained’t occur by itself. Not quick sufficient. Not honest sufficient. It’s as much as us. That is our second of alternative.”
