At London Climate Action Week, UN Secretary-General Calls for Clean Energy Acceleration

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today called for a rapid global shift away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy, warning that the world is facing twin crises of accelerating climate change and growing energy insecurity. Speaking at the London Climate Action Week, he urged governments, businesses and financial institutions to act with greater urgency to limit global warming, strengthen resilience and deliver climate justice. 

Describing the current moment as a “Tale of Two Crises,” the Secretary-General said the climate crisis and the global energy crisis may appear separate but are driven by the same underlying cause: dependence on fossil fuels. He stressed that both challenges require the same solution—a fast, fair transition to renewable energy alongside increased investment in adaptation and resilience for vulnerable communities already suffering the impacts of climate change. 

The Secretary-General noted that the world has just experienced the 11 hottest years on record and warned that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent, destructive and costly. He cited scientific projections indicating that average global temperatures are likely to exceed the 1.5°C threshold in the coming years, increasing the risk of dangerous climate tipping points, including the collapse of coral reef systems, accelerated ice-sheet loss and disruptions to critical weather systems. 

At the same time, the UN Secretary-General said recent geopolitical tensions have triggered a major global energy shock, exposing the vulnerability of economies that remain heavily dependent on fossil fuel markets. He argued that the crisis highlights the need for countries to invest in domestic renewable energy capacity to improve energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fuel prices. “There are no embargoes on sunlight and no blockades on the wind,” he said. 

Highlighting the rapid growth of clean energy, the Secretary-General pointed to dramatic declines in the cost of solar power, wind energy and battery storage over the past decade. He noted that renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity in most parts of the world and that more than 90 per cent of newly added renewable power is already less expensive than the lowest-cost fossil fuel alternatives. 

To accelerate climate action, the Secretary-General outlined a seven-point agenda. The priorities include urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing the energy crisis without expanding fossil fuel production, managing the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, ensuring a just transition for workers and communities, scaling up climate adaptation measures, mobilizing significantly more climate finance and protecting scientific integrity in the face of growing misinformation. 

A key announcement was the launch of a new Global Call to Action on Methane, aimed at accelerating methane reductions across the waste, agriculture and fossil fuel sectors. The Secretary-General noted that methane is responsible for around one-third of global warming and that existing technology could eliminate approximately 70 per cent of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector at little or no net cost. He called on governments to establish a global standard of near-zero methane emissions across the oil and gas value chain. 

The Secretary-General also drew attention to the growing environmental footprint of artificial intelligence. He announced a proposed AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, urging major technology companies to publicly disclose the carbon, water and land impacts of their AI systems and to commit to powering all data centres with renewable energy by 2030. 

On financing, he stressed that developing countries continue to face significant barriers to accessing affordable capital for climate action. He highlighted Africa's enormous clean energy potential, noting that the continent possesses 60 per cent of the world's best solar resources and 30 per cent of critical minerals, yet receives only 2 per cent of global clean-energy investment. More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, he said, describing the situation as both unjust and a missed opportunity for global development. 

The Secretary-General called on developed countries to fulfil existing climate finance commitments, including delivering the pledged $300 billion for developing countries and advancing efforts to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2035. He also urged multilateral development banks to expand lending and support long-term investments in clean energy, resilient infrastructure and adaptation. 

Concluding his address, he said the world stands at a critical moment of choice. While climate impacts are intensifying and energy insecurity remains high, he said the rapid expansion of renewable energy offers an unprecedented opportunity to create jobs, strengthen energy security, improve public health and build a more sustainable future.

“We can finally turn the page on fossil fuels – and write a future powered by renewables and rooted in climate justice,” he said. “This is our moment of choice. Our moment of truth. Our moment of opportunity.”