United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has declared that the age of fossil fuels is ending, as the world embraces a future powered by clean, renewable energy.
Delivering a major address titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age,” Guterres called the current shift not just a technological evolution but a historic turning point.
“Fossil fuels are running out of road,” he said. “The sun is rising on a clean energy age.”
Guterres highlighted global investments in renewables as evidence of this shift, noting that in 2023 alone, $2 trillion was invested in clean energy—nearly $800 billion more than in fossil fuels. Costs for renewables have also plummeted, with solar power now 41% cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives and offshore wind down by 53%, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The transformation, he said, is about more than climate action—it represents a pathway to economic growth, energy security, and sustainable development. Clean energy already generates nearly one-third of the world’s electricity, and most new power capacity added last year came from renewables.
A new report launched in collaboration with international agencies—including the IEA, IMF, IRENA, OECD, and the World Bank—details the progress made since the 2015 Paris Agreement and outlines the steps needed for a just global energy transition.
Guterres emphasized that despite ongoing lobbying by fossil fuel interests, the clean energy movement has passed the “point of no return.” He offered three core reasons why fossil fuels are no longer viable.
First, clean energy now drives global economic growth, with renewable sectors contributing significantly to GDP in countries like India, the U.S., China, and across the EU. Clean energy jobs also now outnumber those in fossil fuels, employing nearly 35 million people worldwide.
Second, he stressed that renewables offer greater energy security. Unlike fossil fuels, which are subject to market shocks and geopolitical disruptions—as seen during the global energy crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—renewables provide stable, affordable, and self-sufficient energy options.
Third, renewables are accessible. Guterres pointed out that while fossil fuel infrastructure is expensive and centralized, solar and wind technologies can be deployed quickly, even in remote areas. He noted that Africa, with its abundant renewable resources, could generate up to ten times its electricity needs by 2040 from clean energy alone.
Guterres concluded with a call to action, urging world leaders to end fossil fuel subsidies, invest in clean technologies, and prioritize a just transition that benefits all. “No government, no industry, no special interest can stop the clean energy revolution,” he said. “It is here—and it is here to stay.”
