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Guterres: ‘Global addiction to fossil fuels’ must end and a ‘renewables revolution’ be jumpstarted

Countries can lower emissions by increasing the use of renewable energy. “The cost of capital for renewable energy projects in the developing world can be seven times higher than in the developed world,” flagged the UN chief, flagging that Africa attracts a mere two per cent of clean energy investments despite its vast renewable energy potential.

“Identifying patents that can be made freely available – especially those relating to battery and storage capacity – are crucial for a rapid and fair energy transition,” he said.

Renewals: ‘Only credible path’

“We have the technology, capacity, and funds,” said the UN chief, “but we urgently need to put policies and frameworks in place to incentivize investments and eliminate bottlenecks caused by red tape, permits and grid connections”.
Shift subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy was his fourth point, as he noted that each year, governments spend around half a trillion dollars to artificially lower the price of fossil fuels – “more than triple what renewables receive”.
Lip service won’t do. We need credible actions and accountability,” he underscored.
Solar panels power refrigeration at the Vinjaram Primary Health Centre in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Third, was to level the playing field for renewables.Solar installations Androimpano, Madagascar, facilitates the daily life of thousands of people by distributing water through gravity.

Key energy priorities

The Secretary-General went on to outline his Five-Point Energy Plan to shift to renewables, beginning with treating the technologies as freely available “global public goods”.
According to Mr. Guterres, a just transition to a renewable energy future is everybody’s business, including the private sector to advance science-based targets and Just Transition plans, in partnership with labour organizations and civil society.
“Upfront costs for solar and wind power account for 80 per cent of lifetime costs – meaning big investments today will reap even bigger rewards tomorrow,” he said.
Next, he highlighted the need to secure, increase, and diversify supply chains for renewable energy technologies, pointing out that supply chains for components and raw materials are “still concentrated in a handful of countries”.
However, this requires: financing to flow to those who need it most; adjusted risk frameworks and more flexibility to scale up renewable finance; and lowering financing costs for developing countries.
Climate disasters and skyrocketing fuel prices have made the need to “end our global addiction to fossil fuels” crystal clear, he said, underscoring the importance of investing in renewables, building resilience, and scaling up adaptation.
Mr. Guterres’ fifth and final point focused on the importance of tripling public and private investments in renewables to at least trillion dollars a year.


Without renewables, there can be no future – UN chief
“Without renewables, there can be no future”.

Financing the future

© UNICEF/Harikrishna Katragadda
Every business and investor; every city and country must “walk the talk” on their net-zero promises to realize the Paris Agreement and rescue the Sustainable Development Goals, added the UN chief.
“Leaders in business as well as government must stop thinking about renewables as a distant project of the future”, underscored the top UN official.
“Had we invested massively in renewable energy in the past, we would not be in the middle of a climate emergency now”.

Walking the talk

Renewables are “the only credible path” to real energy security, stable power prices and sustainable employment opportunities, said the UN chief.
“The UN Global Compact is poised to help in this vital effort,” he spelled out, urging everyone to accelerate action across industries and regions “to jumpstart the renewables revolution”.
He also maintained that the share of renewables in global electricity generation must increase from nearly 30 per cent today to over 60 per cent in 2030 and 90 per cent in 2050. 
“If we channel these resources and subsidies to renewables, we not only cut emissions; we also create more decent and green jobs,” he argued.

Solar panels power refrigeration at the Vinjaram Primary Health Centre in Andhra Pradesh, India.Countries can lower emissions by increasing the use of renewable energy.

Solar installations Androimpano, Madagascar, facilitates the daily life of thousands of people by distributing water through gravity.

© UNICEF/Safidy Andriananten

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