United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declares that fossil fuel era is “teetering and failing” and asks all nations to accelerate a just and inclusive transition to clean energy, calling it the “biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”

“Fossil fuels are outdated. The sun is rising on a new era − the era of clean energy,” Guterres said in an address at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

“This is not just an energy transition. It is a transformation of hope,”he added.

His speech, titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Accelerating the Clean Energy Era,” outlined a six-point action plan to scale up renewables, phase out fossil fuel subsidies, secure clean energy access for all, and finance the green transition, especially in developing countries.

The UN also released a new joint report with major partners − IEA, IMF, IRENA, OECD, and World Bank − showing that renewables are now nearly tied with fossil fuels in total installed capacity worldwide, and accounted for almost all new power generation added last year.

Guterres cited key data in his argument:

• US$2 trillion invested in clean energy in 2024 − US$800 billion more than fossil fuels
• Solar power is now 41 percent cheaper than fossil fuels; offshore wind 53 percent cheaper
• Over 90 percent of new renewable energy produces electricity cheaper than the cheapest fossil fuel
• Clean energy now provides nearly one-third of global electricity

Despite progress, Guterres warned that the shift is happening “too slowly and too unfairly.” Developed nations and China account for 80 percent of current renewable capacity; Africa, with 60 percent of the best solar potential, receives just 2 percent of investment.

“The fossil fuel age is not protecting economies − it is destroying them,” he said. “Energy from the sun and wind is not only cleaner, it is cheaper, more secure, and more sovereign.”

He identified six priorities to accelerate the clean energy revolution:

1. Stronger National Climate Plans (NDCs) − G20 nations must submit ambitious new climate pledges ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Guterres invited world leaders to present them at a high-level climate summit during the UN General Assembly in September.

2. Modern, flexible power systems − He called for urgent investment in grid infrastructure, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging networks. “We are building renewable energy − but not connecting it fast enough,” he warned.

3. Powering growing demand sustainably − With AI, digital finance, and cities driving up electricity use, Guterres urged tech firms to ensure 100 percent renewable energy for all data centers by 2030. “The digital future must be powered by the sun, wind, and hope,” he said.

4. A just and inclusive transition − Guterres emphasized support for fossil fuel workers, women, youth, and Indigenous communities. He condemned exploitative practices in mineral-rich countries and urged adoption of UN-backed human rights standards for critical minerals.

5. Trade and investment for clean energy − He called for tariff reductions, diversified supply chains, modernized investment treaties, and South-South cooperation. “Trade must become a tool of transformation − not obstruction.”

6. Unlocking finance for the Global South − Africa received just 2 percent of global clean energy investment in 2024. Guterres demanded financial reforms, expanded MDB lending, and new approaches to risk that reflect climate realities and energy potential.

“Today, developing countries pay the highest costs for debt and equity — not because they are risky, but because outdated models say they are,” he said.

Tipping point

Guterres pointed to examples like Texas − a U.S. oil stronghold now leading in renewables − and Pakistan, where solar energy is booming due to public demand. He said countries sticking to fossil fuels “are not protecting their economies − they are locking in uncompetitive, stranded assets.”

He reiterated that renewable energy is now central to energy security. “The sun does not spike in price. The wind cannot be embargoed,” Guterres said.

Looking ahead to COP30, he urged urgent emissions cuts and real progress toward the 1.5°C climate goal. “We are entering an age of cheap, clean, and abundant energy,” he concluded. “Let’s make sure it benefits everyone.”