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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres recently highlighted the growing potential of clean energy during a special address. He noted that the increasing abundance and decreasing costs of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, mark “the dawn of a new energy era” characterized by affordable, sustainable power.
Guterres stated, “The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing,” underlining that almost all newly built power capacity last year came from renewables. He asserted that the economics of renewable energy have reached a tipping point, making the clean energy transition unstoppable.
Addressing nations, Guterres called for a full embrace of this potential as they submit plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He also challenged major tech companies to meet their data center power needs with 100% renewable energy by 2030. Guterres highlighted that data centers could consume as much electricity as Japan does today by 2030, which is unsustainable unless transformed.
Drawing on a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Guterres noted remarkable growth in renewable energy since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015. Solar and wind power are now about 40-50% cheaper than fossil fuels. Grid-scale batteries, crucial for storing intermittent renewable energy, saw global capacity soar from 2 gigawatts to 90 gigawatts.
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Guterres emphasized that the availability of affordable clean energy allows governments to be more aggressive on emissions reductions. He plans to convene a high-level event during the U.N. General Assembly in September to highlight NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) that support global goals for renewable energy capacity and net-zero emissions by 2050.
While former President Joe Biden submitted the U.S. NDC late last year, it was largely symbolic as Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement upon taking office. Guterres implicitly criticized Trump’s energy policies favoring fossil fuels over renewables.
Trump dismantled climate-related research at federal agencies, imposed barriers to solar and wind development, and ended many regulations on greenhouse gas emissions while expanding mining and drilling access to public lands. In contrast, Guterres urged Big Tech companies to commit to renewable energy for their AI data centers.
At a summit in Pittsburgh, Trump’s Energy Secretary Chris Wright discouraged clean power support, describing it as the “energy crazy train.” However, Guterres argued that continued investment in fossil fuels will drive up costs and create stranded assets in the long term. He stressed that countries relying on fossil fuels are not protecting their economies but sabotaging them.
The U.N. General Assembly coincides with Climate Week NYC, where Newsweek will host events focused on energy and the green transition. Mark your calendars for “Pillars of the Green Transition” on September 24 and “Powering Ahead” on September 25.
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