Enviro News Asia, New York — For the first time in history, renewable energy sources have generated more electricity globally than coal. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed this milestone as a “historic turning point in the global transition toward clean energy.”
In a statement released through the UN’s official website and his social media channels, Guterres emphasized that the clean energy era is no longer a distant promise but a reality already unfolding.
“For the first time, renewable energy has produced more electricity than coal. The clean energy future is no longer a far-off promise — that future is here,” Guterres said.
He highlighted that solar and wind power are now the cheapest sources of electricity in the world, while the clean energy sector continues to create new jobs, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen climate resilience.
According to the latest UN report and its partner institutions, the increase in power generation capacity from renewable sources — particularly solar, wind, and hydro — has surpassed the total global output from coal-based electricity. This marks a profound shift in the world’s energy system, which for decades has been dominated by fossil fuels.
Guterres urged all nations to “seize this historic opportunity” by accelerating investments and policies that promote renewable energy. He stressed that speeding up the energy transition is not only vital to tackling the climate crisis but also to building a fairer, cleaner, and more sustainable future for all.
“It’s time to fully unleash the potential of renewable energy and accelerate the global transition toward a cleaner and more equitable future,” he declared.
The UN report further noted that nearly all new electricity capacity added globally over the past five years has come from renewables. Analysts see this momentum as a strong signal that the world is moving decisively toward the decarbonization of its energy systems — a crucial step toward achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century. (*)
