Guterres: End Of Fossil Fuel Has Come
By Bukar BOLORI
The United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has said the end of fossil fuel has come, stating that the world has started embracing clean energy.
Guterres in a televised broadcast: “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age,”said:
“The headlines are dominated by a world in trouble. By conflict and climate chaos.By rising human suffering. By growing geo-political divides. But amidst the turmoil, another story is being written.
“And its implications will be profound.Throughout history, energy has shaped the destiny of humankind – from masteringfire, to harnessing steam, to splitting the atom. Now, we are on the cusp of a new era.Fossil fuels are running out of road. The sun is rising on a clean energy age.
“Just follow the money $2 trillion went into clean energy last year – that’s $800 billion more than fossil fuels, and up almost 70% in ten years.
“And new data released today from the International Renewable Energy Agencyshows that solar – not so long ago four times the cost of fossil fuels – is now 41%cheaper. Offshore wind – 53%. And over 90% of new renewables worldwide produced electricity for less than thecheapest new fossil fuel alternative.
“This is not just a shift in power. It is a shift in possibility. Yes, in repairing our relationship with the climate. Already, the carbon emissions saved by solar and wind globally are almost equivalent to what the whole European Union produces in a year.But this transformation is fundamentally about energy security and people’ssecurity.
“It’s about smart economics. Decent jobs, public health, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. And delivering clean and affordable energy to everyone, everywhere.
“Today, we are releasing a special report with the support of UN agencies andpartners — the International Energy Agency, the IMF, IRENA, the OECD and theWorld Bank. The report shows how far we have come in the decade since the Paris Agreement sparked a clean energy revolution. And it highlights the vast benefits – and actions needed – to accelerate a just transition globally. Renewables already nearly match fossil fuels in global installed power capacity. And that’s just the beginning.
“Last year, almost all the new power capacity built came from renewables.Every continent on Earth added more renewables capacity than fossil fuels.And renewables generated almost a third of global electricity. The clean energy future is no longer a promise. It’s a fact. No government. No industry. No special interest can stop it.”
Gutteres said: “Of course, the fossil fuel lobby will try – and we know the lengths to which they will go. But I have never been more confident that they will fail – because we have passed the point of no return.”
He explained that there are three powerful reasons; which are market economics as number one, stating that: “For decades, emissions and economic growth rose together,” but: “No more in many advanced economies, emissions have peaked, but growth continues.
“In 2023 alone, clean energy sectors drove 10% of global GDP growth. In India, 5%. The United States, 6%. China – a leader in the energy transition – 20%. And in the European Union, nearly 33%. And clean energy sector jobs now outnumber fossil fuel jobs – employing almost 35 million people worldwide. Even Texas – the heart of the American fossil fuel industry – now leads the US in renewables.”
He noted that “it makes economic sense.And yet fossil fuels still enjoy a 9 to 1 advantage in consumption subsidiesglobally – a clear market distortion.Add to that the unaccounted costs of climate damages on people and planet – and the distortion is even greater,” decrying that:
“Countries that cling to fossil fuels are not protecting their economies – they are sabotaging them; Driving up costs; Undermining competitiveness; Locking-in stranded assets; And missing the greatest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”
He said secondly, renewables are here to stay because they are the foundation ofenergy security and sovereignty.
Guterres said: “Let’s be clear: The greatest threat to energy security today is fossil fuels. They leave economies and people at the mercy of price shocks, supply disruptions, and geopolitical turmoil.Just look at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.A war in Europe led to a global energy crisis.Oil and gas prices soared. Electricity and food bills followed.
“In 2022 average households around the world saw energy costs jump 20%.Modern and competitive economies need stable, affordable energy. Renewablesoffer both. There are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on wind. Renewables can put power – literally and figuratively – in the hands of people andgovernments.
“And almost every nation has enough sun, wind, or water to become energy self-sufficient. Renewables mean real energy security. Real energy sovereignty. And real freedom from fossil-fuel volatility.”
He said the third and final reason why there is no going back on renewables is because of easy access.
The UN Secretary General said: “You can’t build a coal plant in someone’s backyard.But you can deliver solar panels to the most remote village on earth. Solar and wind can be deployed faster, cheaper and more flexibly than fossil fuels ever could.
“And while nuclear will be part of the global energy mix, it can never fill the accessgaps. All of this is a game-changer for the hundreds of millions of people still livingwithout electricity – most of them in Africa, a continent bursting with renewablepotential.”
He noted that by 2040, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs – entirely from renewables.
