In a particular handle at UN Headquarters in New York, Mr. Guterres cited surging clear vitality funding and plunging photo voltaic and wind prices that now outcompete fossil fuels.
“The vitality 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 observe‑as much as final yr’s Second of Reality – was delivered alongside a brand new UN technical report drawing on international vitality and finance our bodies.
“Simply observe the cash,” Mr. Guterres stated, noting that $2 trillion flowed into clear vitality final yr, $800 billion greater than fossil fuels and up nearly 70 per cent in a decade.
Key factors from the handle
- Level of no return – The world has irreversibly shifted in direction of renewables, with fossil fuels coming into their decline
- Clear vitality surge – $2 trillion invested in clear vitality 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 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 vitality sovereignty”
- Six alternative areas – Local weather plan ambition, fashionable 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 occasions 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 affordable 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 international put in energy capability, and “nearly 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 vitality is unstoppable
Mr. Guterres underscored {that a} clear vitality future “is now not a promise, it’s a reality”. 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’ll go. However, I’ve by no means been extra assured that they’ll fail as a result of we’ve got handed the purpose of no return.”
He urged nations to lock ambition into the following spherical of nationwide local weather plans, or NDCs, due inside months. Mr. Guterres referred to as on the G20 nations, that are accountable 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 vitality effectivity and triple renewables capability by 2030” whereas accelerating “the transition away from fossil fuels”.
Actual vitality sovereignty
The Secretary-Normal additionally highlighted the geopolitical dangers of fossil gasoline dependence.
“The best menace to vitality safety in the present day is fossil fuels,” he stated, citing worth shocks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“There aren’t any worth spikes for daylight, no embargoes on wind. Renewables imply actual vitality safety, actual vitality sovereignty and actual freedom from fossil-fuel volatility.”
Six alternative areas
Mr. Guterres mapped six “alternative areas” to hurry the transition: formidable NDCs, fashionable 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, house to 60 per cent of the world’s greatest photo voltaic assets, obtained simply 2 per cent of world clear vitality funding final yr, he stated.
Just one in 5 clear vitality {dollars} over the previous decade went to rising and creating economies exterior 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 vitality period,” he stated in closing.
“That world is inside attain, but it surely received’t occur by itself. Not quick sufficient. Not honest sufficient. It’s as much as us. That is our second of alternative.”
