UN Chief Guterres: "Fossil Fuels Running Out of Road"

"Countries that cling to fossil fuels are not protecting their economies - they are sabotaging them."

At the UN headquarters in New York on July 22, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a keynote titled "A Moment of Opportunity", declaring that we''ve reached a turning point: renewable energy is now cheaper, faster, and more secure than fossil fuels. "Fossil fuels are running out of road," he warned.

Renewable Cost Breakthrough

• Solar is ~41% cheaper, wind ~53% cheaper than the lowest-cost fossil fuels.
• Over 90% of new renewable projects now undercut fossil-fuel alternatives.
• Global investment in renewables hit $2 trillion in 2024 - $800 billion more than fossil fuels.

Energy Security & Economic Sense

Guterres stressed that fossil fuel dependency exposes nations to price volatility, supply shocks, and geopolitical instability - while solar and wind offer stable, sovereign, embargo-proof power. He called on governments and the tech sector, especially AI data center operators, to commit to 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

Global Equity & Infrastructure Needs

• Despite advances, only 2% of 2024''s new renewable capacity came from Africa.
• For every $1 spent on new generation, only $0.60 is being invested in grid expansion - a shortfall the UN warns must be addressed.
• A just transition requires fair financing for low-income nations and global cooperation ahead of COP30.

EVWorld Takeaway

Guterres'' address makes it clear: the economics of clean power now beat fossil fuels across the board. For EVWorld readers, this means lower-cost EV charging infrastructure, more stable power grids, and a cleaner energy future driven by both policy and profit.

Sources

• Al Jazeera
• The Guardian
• Reuters
• Associated Press
• Financial Times
• WWF
• World Meteorological Organization
• Climate Action Network

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