The world is nearing a critical climate turning point as fossil fuels lose their grip on global energy systems, according to the United Nations Secretary-General, who has urged countries to accelerate their transition to renewables.
Fossil fuels facing irreversible decline
In a stark address delivered ahead of the upcoming Climate Ambition Summit in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared that fossil fuels have “run out of road”, citing a convergence of political will, technological progress and economic pressure that may soon tip the balance. Guterres noted that the cost of solar and wind energy has plummeted by more than 80% in the past decade, while battery storage is scaling rapidly and investment in renewables is now outpacing fossil fuel funding globally.
“This could be the beginning of the end for the fossil fuel era,” he said. “We are at the tipping point. But tipping points are also moments of danger — if we hesitate now, the consequences will be irreversible.”
Renewables gain momentum, but pace must accelerate
The Secretary-General praised a growing number of nations for committing to phase out coal and cut methane emissions, highlighting the G7’s recent pledge to eliminate coal-fired power by 2035 and the UAE’s leadership in financing green infrastructure in the Global South. However, Guterres warned that progress remains uneven, with oil and gas expansion still planned or underway in major economies including the United States, China and Russia.
Scientists advising the UN have stressed that global emissions must peak before 2025 and be halved by 2030 to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal alive. Current national policies, however, fall short of that target. Guterres called for all countries to submit strengthened Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2025 and to commit to net-zero energy systems by mid-century.
Developing world needs climate justice
A central theme of Guterres’ message was climate equity. He called on industrialised countries to honour their long-promised $100 billion annual climate finance pledge and to ensure that adaptation funds flow more swiftly to vulnerable nations facing rising seas, heatwaves and crop failure. The new Loss and Damage Fund, agreed at COP28 in Dubai, must now be operationalised with substantial capital, he said.
“Without justice for the Global South, there can be no climate breakthrough,” he added, stressing that African, Pacific and Latin American nations are bearing the brunt of climate change despite contributing the least.
‘The era of excuses is over’
The address closed with a direct challenge to world leaders ahead of COP29 in Baku later this year. “The era of excuses is over,” Guterres said. “The science is clear, the economics are compelling, and the technology is here. What remains is the courage to act.”
Climate groups and environmental economists responded with cautious optimism, noting that while the shift from fossil fuels is accelerating, political divisions and corporate lobbying continue to delay necessary reforms. Still, many see the UN’s framing of this moment as a ‘climate inflection point’ as a crucial narrative shift — one that could shape the tenor and urgency of future negotiations.
REFH – Newshub, 23 July 2025
Recent Comments