New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
UN chief renews call for transition away from fossil fuels
6/10/2026
News
UN Secretary General António Guterrez called on every government to adopt a national plan to transition away from fossil fuels in a speech opening the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations on 21 September, his last in post.
‘We know that fossil fuel interests won’t step aside on their own. Since [the Russian Federation’s] invasion of Ukraine, five major Western oil companies have pocketed nearly half a trillion dollars in profits. Compare that with just $34bn in international public adaptation finance for developing countries in the latest year reported.’
He said that the climate crisis demands the same determination as fighting big tobacco. ‘Those who polluted the most – and profited the most – must do far more to repair the damage they caused. Polluters must pay. And to the leaders, cities, civil society and citizens working to hold them accountable, I say: You are on the right side of history. Keep going.’
On the optimistic side, Guterrez hailed the progress made by renewables as ‘one of the most promising shifts in power of our time’.
He said: ‘The sun belongs to no one. The wind cannot be embargoed. Innovation can come from everywhere. This is a profound rebalancing of power relations. Renewables are now the cheapest source of new electricity in most of the world. And the most viable path to energy security, independence and sustainable growth. A future beyond fossil fuels is in sight. The question is how. Will it be a just and orderly transition built on international cooperation – or chaotic and costly leaving people and countries behind?’
On that point, Guterrez said that developed countries should triple climate adaptation finance, and support the loss and damage fund, whose current size he described as ‘ridiculously small’.
In his speech he framed climate change as one of the four great tests of power currently facing the world alongside peace and security, the concentration of wealth, and AI.
Those sentiments were echoed in a second high-level event on climate action and the just transition a few days later, when Guterrez said renewables should be tripled, energy efficiency doubled, economies electrified, methane slashed and deforestation halted to reduce global warming.
He stressed the transition needs to be fair and also called for improved financing of the energy transition, scaling up climate finance to $1.3tn/y by 2035 and at least $300bn/y for developing countries.
