United Nations António Guterres has said that renewables are essential in creating solutions to combat
climate disasters globally.
He said this while urging governments, including developing countries such as Nigeria to adopt
renewables.
He said this in a video message delivered at the opening ceremony of the 13th IRENA Assembly
organized as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable
energy developer, one of the biggest clean energy investors in the world.
With the theme, “World Energy Transition – The Global Stocktake”, Guterres said: “Only renewables can
safeguard our future, close the energy access gap, stabilize prices and ensure energy security. Today,
their share in global electricity is about 30 percent. That must double to over 60 percent by 2030 and 90
percent by 2050.
“Under current policies, we are headed for 2.8 degrees of global warming by the end of the century. The
consequences will be devastating. Several parts of our planet will be uninhabitable. And for many, this is
a death sentence,” he said.
He highlighted a five-point energy plan for a successful transition.
“First, we must remove intellectual property barriers and treat key renewable technologies, including
energy storage, as global public goods. Second, we must diversify and increase access to supply chains
for raw materials and components for renewables technologies, without degrading our environment.
This can help create millions of green jobs, especially for women and youth in the developing world.”
“Third, decision-makers must cut the red tape, fast-track approvals for sustainable projects worldwide,
and modernize grids. Fourth, energy subsidies must shift from fossil fuels to clean and affordable
energy. And fifth, public and private investments in renewables should triple to at least $4 trillion a
year,” he continued.
He said global leaders must all work together to reduce the capital cost for renewables, especially in
developing countries such as Nigeria, and ensure that financing flows to those who need it most.
He urged multilateral development banks to play their part by investing massively in renewable energy
infrastructure, taking on more risks, and leveraging private finance, adding that developed countries
must work with credit agencies to scale up green investments in developing countries.
