UN Secretary-General emphasizes phasing out fossil fuels on first International Clean Energy Day

 

January 26 this year is the first International Clean Energy Day. In a video message for the first International Clean Energy Day,

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that phasing out fossil fuels is not only necessary, but inevitable.

He called on governments around the world to take action and accelerate transformation.

 

Guterres pointed out that clean energy is a gift that continues to bring benefits. It can clean polluted air, meet growing energy demand,

secure supply and give billions of people access to affordable electricity, helping to make electricity available to everyone by 2030.

Not only that, but clean energy saves money and protects the planet.

 

Guterres said that in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate disorder and promote sustainable development, the transition

from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy must be done in a fair, just, equitable and rapid manner. To this end, governments need to

reform the business models of multilateral development banks to allow affordable funds to flow, thereby significantly increasing climate

finance; countries need to formulate new national climate plans by 2025 at the latest and chart a fair and just path forward. The path to

clean electricity transition; countries also need to end the fossil fuel era in a fair and equitable way.

 

On August 25 last year, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring January 26 as International Clean Energy

Day, calling for increased awareness and action to transition to clean energy in a just and inclusive manner to benefit mankind and the planet.

 

According to data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the global renewable energy industry has indeed shown

unprecedented development momentum. Overall, 40% of global installed power generation comes from renewable energy. Global

investment in energy transition technologies hit a new high in 2022, reaching US$1.3 trillion, an increase of 70% from 2019. Additionally,

the number of jobs in the global renewable energy industry has almost doubled over the past 10 years.