António Guterres calls for acceleration of the energy transition in COP31

O uN Secretary-General António Guterres today considered “essential” to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius (oC) and to build cleaner and safer economies.

Speaking at the 31st UN climate conference (COP31) in Antália, Turkey, António Guterres highlighted that fossil fuels not only fuel the climate crisis but their dependence has a “high” economic and security cost, as was evident by the crisis in the Middle East.

In 130 countries, gasoline prices increased by around 26% and diesel prices by 38%, while “the families, businesses and governments are paying the price,” he noted.

However, nine oil companies expect to profit more than $95 billion in just three months, the equivalent of over $1 billion a day.

In this context, António Guterres called for the reduction of dependence through clean energy, electricity networks, storage, energy efficiency and electrification.

“ There is not a single transition that serves everyone, since countries have different levels of dependence, different capacities and different starting points”, but all roads must lead in the same direction, he emphasized.

It also warned that “national action alone will not be sufficient”, since in an interconnected global market supply and demand must be managed together.

António Guterres listed the use of the global roadmap (proposed by Brazil) to develop specific national roadmaps as a priority and argued that governments “should determine where fossil fuels are used, which jobs and incomes depend on them and which obstacles are preventing alternatives.”.

“ Importing countries should reduce their exposure and at the same time expand access to clean energy,” while producer countries should diversify their economies and prepare for changes in income, industry and employment,” he said.

For António Guterres, it is “essential to adapt international support to these roadmaps”, adding that “developed countries, development banks and other partners should coordinate funding, technology and training around these priorities”.

The UN Secretary-General stressed that “cooperation between importing countries and exporters of fossil fuels should be strengthened”, as their decisions are interlinked.

“ Now, here at COP31, we must move from the debate on the transition to the organisation, financing and implementation of this transition,” added António Guterres, urging participants to leave Antalia with “concrete and clear measures to continue to move forward with this Roadmap.”.

The second day of COP31, which ends on November 20, was today dedicated to the theme of energy and transport.