A new clean energy era is within our reach. As fossil fuels run out of road, now is the moment to turbocharge the renewables revolution and make sure it delivers clean and affordable energy for all.
“We must seize this moment of opportunity,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres, stressing that shifting to renewables makes economic sense, ensures real energy security and sovereignty, and allows easy energy access even in remote areas.
The Secretary-General outlines six critical areas we must prioritize to end our reliance on fossil fuels and transition our energy systems.
Present bold new national climate plans
Countries have the opportunity to fully seize the benefits of the new renewable energy economy. But national policies and resources often lack the coherence and clarity needed.
Through bold new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - national climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts - countries can bring policy certainty and accelerate the energy transition.
The plans should deliver on the global promises to double energy efficiency and triple renewables capacity by 2030, and bring global emissions to net-zero by 2050.
All states should present bold new NDCs ahead of COP30, covering all emissions, across the entire economy, and aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Policies should make it easier to end subsidies for fossil fuels and invest in renewable projects instead.
Every government must act, but G20 countries – responsible for almost 80 per cent of global emissions - should lead this effort.
Build 21st century energy systems
Renewable capacity has surged by around 2,600 gigawatts (GW) in the last ten years - a 140 per cent increase – and continues to grow. Meanwhile, the cost of battery storage systems for electricity grids has dropped by over 90 per cent in just fifteen years.
Yet, for every dollar invested in renewable power, only 60 cents go to grids and storage.
To build clean, secure and efficient energy systems, countries must invest in modern and flexible grid and storage infrastructure, as well as EV charging stations.
These investments should be paired with energy efficiency improvements and electrification across the building, transport, and industry sectors.
Meet the surging demand for sustainable energy
Energy demand is growing. Digital finance and Artificial Intelligence (AI) require massive amounts of electricity to function, while more people turn cooling on as temperatures increase.
This growing energy demand can and should be met by renewables and other clean energy sources.
Governments should aim to meet all new electricity demand with renewables. But tech companies also have a role to play. By 2030, data centres could consume as much electricity as all of Japan does today. This is why major tech firms should commit to powering their operations with 100 per cent renewables by 2030.
Deliver equity and opportunity for all
The clean energy transition must place people at its heart.
Only with equity, dignity and opportunity can there be a just transition – a transition that provides support, education and training and leaves no one behind, from fossil fuel workers to youth and Indigenous Peoples.
The transition must be fair. Low-income countries that are highly dependent on fossil fuels need international cooperation to be able to shift to renewable energy. Countries and local communities endowed with the critical minerals that power the clean energy transition must be the ones to benefit the most as the demand and extraction of those minerals are surging.
Everyone should have access to clean electricity and cooking by 2030. Renewables-based solutions make this possible.
Increase trade and investment cooperation
The clean energy transition needs increased cooperation on trade and investment.
Trade can and should be a tool for transformation, ensuring access to technologies, materials and manufacturing across borders.
For this to happen, governments need to build diverse, secure, and resilient supply chains, cut tariffs on clean energy goods, and boost South-South cooperation.
Mobilize finance for developing countries
Structural barriers continue to lock developing countries out of energy transition finance, hampering global efforts to shift away from fossil fuels.
In the last ten years, only one in five dollars invested in clean energy went to emerging and developing countries outside China. In 2024, only 2 per cent of global clean energy investment went to Africa.
To limit global warming to 1.5°C and deliver universal energy access, annual clean energy investment in developing countries must rise more than fivefold by 2030.
To achieve this, the global financial and debt architecture must be reformed. This means considerably increasing the lending capacity of multilateral development banks and scaling up debt relief tools, like debt for climate swaps. It is also necessary to bring down the cost of capital, by demystifying perceived risks and biases.
Read more
A Moment of Opportunity
The just transition to renewable energy is inevitable and hugely beneficial. Watch the UN Secretary-General's special address on 22 July 2025.
Five reasons to accelerate the clean energy transition
Why is clean energy key to tackling the climate crisis? Learn more about the benefits of renewable energy.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy comes from natural resources that are abundant and continuously replenished. Learn about solar, wind and other renewable energy sources.