UN Declares Fossil Fuel Era Over, Urges Ghana to Lead Clean Energy Shift
Guterres calls for bold climate action and equity in clean energy investments ahead of COP30
As the global climate crisis accelerates and the fossil fuel era fades, Ghana has been called upon to lead a just and inclusive energy transition for Africa—positioning itself as a trailblazer in clean energy, sustainable development, and ocean stewardship.
The call comes amid rising global investments in renewables, declining costs of solar and wind power, and growing urgency to close Africa’s clean energy gap.
This call was made during a media briefing held in Accra by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in collaboration with the UN Global Compact Network Ghana.
The event highlighted two major global messages: the UN Secretary-General’s climate declaration titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age” and Ghana’s selection as a Pioneer Country under the UN Ocean Centres Initiative.
Delivering the Secretary-General’s address, Dr Emmanuel Kofi Mbia, Country Lead for Ocean Centres Ghana, warned that the world has reached a pivotal turning point in the climate crisis and that Ghana must seize this moment of opportunity with urgency and ambition.
“Fossil fuels are running out of road. The sun is rising on a clean energy age,” Dr Mbia stated. “This is not only about cutting emissions but about creating jobs, improving public health, and driving inclusive development. Ghana must position itself at the forefront of this transformation.”
He revealed that clean energy investment worldwide in 2024 has reached two trillion dollars, outpacing fossil fuel investments by 800 billion dollars. Over the last decade, global investments in renewable energy have grown by nearly 70 percent.
Solar power is now 41 percent cheaper than fossil fuels, while offshore wind costs have dropped by 53 percent. Nearly all new power capacity added globally this year came from renewables, with clean energy now making up one-third of global electricity generation.
Dr Mbia noted that employment in the clean energy sector has surpassed jobs in fossil fuels, with 35 million people now working in renewables. However, he expressed concern that regions like Africa are still missing out on the benefits.
“Africa holds 60 percent of the world’s solar potential but received only 2 percent of global clean energy investments in 2024 and accounts for just 1.5 percent of global renewable capacity,” he said. “It is time to bridge this gap with equitable investment and policy action.”
Announcing Ghana’s selection as a Pioneer Country under the UN Ocean Centres Initiative, Dr Mbia highlighted the importance of ocean governance and climate resilience.
“Our environment, economy, and national development are intricately linked to the ocean,” he said. “By joining this initiative, Ghana is taking a bold step toward sustainable ocean management and climate adaptation.”
He outlined six urgent steps in the Secretary-General’s roadmap to accelerate the global shift to clean energy.
These include adopting more ambitious national climate plans aligned with the 1.5-degree Celsius target and net-zero goals, modernizing infrastructure to include smart grids and electric vehicle systems, and using clean energy to power rising demand including data centres by 2030.
Dr Mbia stressed the importance of a just and inclusive transition that supports fossil fuel workers, youth, and women.
He also highlighted the need for reforms in trade and investment that prioritize clean energy and South-South cooperation. He called for massive financial support to the Global South, noting that clean energy investment in these regions must increase fivefold by 2030.
He further criticized the current international financial system that hinders access to affordable clean energy funding for developing countries.
“We need a new financial architecture that reflects the urgency of the climate crisis and the opportunities presented by renewable energy,” he emphasized.
Dr. Mbia concluded by encouraging Ghana’s government, civil society, private sector, and youth to step up to the challenge.
“This is Ghana’s moment of opportunity,” he said. “With the right leadership, partnerships, and investment, we can become a model for climate action and a beacon of sustainable development in Africa and beyond.”
The Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Ghana, also Tolu Kweku Lacroix, underscored the need for private sector commitment in achieving sustainable energy goals.
He noted that the clean energy transition cannot succeed without the active involvement of businesses.
“As the world shifts to a clean energy economy, Ghana’s private sector must seize this moment to innovate and lead,” Mr Lacroix said. “We must mobilize investments, scale up climate-smart business models, and ensure that no one is left behind in the transition.”
As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil later this year, the UN and its partners are encouraging countries like Ghana to step forward and lead by example.
“The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing,” Secretary-General António Guterres warned in his address. “We are in the dawn of a new energy era, one where cheap, clean, and abundant energy powers economies and protects the planet.”
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Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
