He said renewable energy was “the peace plan of the 21st century” and called on fossil fuel finance to be abandoned wholesale, in favour of the green alternative.He said grave consequences would be the result, with nearly half the world’s population already in the “danger zone”.
Renewables: 21st century peace plan
Third, reform the red tape that is holding back the renewable production revolution.
New funding for fossil fuels is delusional.
“On the other hand, oil and gas have reached record price levels. And investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than fossil fuels”, argued the Secretary-General.
And I call on all financial actors to abandon fossil fuel finance and invest in renewable energy.
First, make renewable energy technology a global public good, including removing intellectual property barriers to sharing technology.
Not good enough
The window to prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis is closing fast, the UN chief warned, and to keep the 1.5-degree goal of limiting global warming within reach, emissions must be cut by 45 per cent by 2030, with net zero emissions by 2050.
Let me be blunt: most national climate pledges are simply not good enough. This is not just my view. Science and public opinion are giving timid climate policies a giant fail mark.
Second, improve global access to supply chains for renewable energy technologies components and raw materials.
Broken mix
“We are witnessing a historic and dangerous disconnect – science and citizens are demanding ambitious and transformative climate action. Meanwhile, many governments are dragging their feet.
Mr. Guterres repeated his call for G20 leading economies to “dismantle coal infrastructure, with a full phase-out by 2030 for OECD countries and 2040 for all others.”
And fifth, a tripling in investments in renewables.
“Had we invested massively in renewable energy in the past, we would not be so dramatically at the mercy of the instability of fossil fuel markets.”
António Guterres was speaking at the Sixth Austrian World Summit on the climate crisis, convened by the Austrian Government and former Governor of California and Hollywood actor turned climate activist, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Solutions now
The energy crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine has seen a perilous doubling down on fossil fuels by the major economies.
It will only further feed the scourge of war, pollution & climate catastrophe. https://t.co/ppM3pOaqna
“The only true path to energy security, stable power prices, prosperity and a liveable planet lies in abandoning polluting fossil fuels, especially coal, and accelerating the renewables-based energy transition”, he declared.
Fourth, a shift in energy subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy, while addressing the potential consequences for the most vulnerable.
And, at a time when we should all come together in the fight for our lives, senseless wars are tearing us apart”, he added. “The energy crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine has seen a perilous doubling down on fossil fuels by the major economies. The war has reinforced an abject lesson: our energy mix is broken.”
The paradox, he said, is that cheaper, fairer and more reliable energy options should have been developer sooner, and faster, including wind and solar.
