Here’s the translation to American English:
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The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, warned this Friday about the slow global progress towards a fair and sustainable energy transition, despite the increase in the use of renewable energy and the commitments made during COP28. In his speech, Guterres urged countries to close the “dangerous compliance gap” and take urgent action to avoid global warming exceeding 2°C.
The global energy landscape is transforming, according to Guterres, who highlighted that 90% of the new electricity capacity installed in the past year has come from renewable sources. Additionally, investment in clean energy reached two trillion dollars, surpassing fossil fuel investment by 800 billion dollars. China is positioned as the main driver of this evolution, accounting for 43% of the increase in solar generation and 44% of the growth in wind energy during the first half of the year.
The Secretary-General emphasized that renewable energy is now the most economical option for new electricity in almost all countries. This clean energy revolution is “already here,” he asserted, adding that every dollar invested in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel sector. However, he stressed that progress is insufficient, and it is crucial to move more quickly to ensure that all countries benefit from this transition.
During COP28, it was agreed to begin an orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. Despite these commitments, Guterres warned that even if they are met, the planet will still be on a trajectory toward a temperature increase that could exceed 2 degrees, leading to flooding, heatwaves, and suffering in various regions.
To accelerate this transformation, Guterres outlined five priorities: aligning laws and policies with a just transition, eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, focusing on people, investing in electrical grids and efficiency, and unlocking large-scale financing for developing countries, which currently receive only 2% of global investment in clean energy.
Guterres’ final message was clear: although pathways may vary, the goal must be singular: a world with net zero emissions, followed by one with negative emissions, completely powered by renewable energy. He called for action with “speed and solidarity” to turn “the climate necessity into a development opportunity.”
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Source: MiMub in Spanish