António Guterres (United Nations Secretary-General) Video Message for IEA 50th Anniversary Celebration
Excellencies, friends, <div><br></div><div>I congratulate the women and men of the International Energy Agency on your 50th anniversary. </div><div><br></div><div>And I want to recognize and thank Executive Director Fatih Birol.</div><div><br></div><div>Under his strong and insightful leadership, the IEA has carved out a critical role at the heart of the renewables revolution. </div><div><br></div><div>The work of the IEA is shaping public debate; </div><div><br></div><div>Supporting a just, sustainable energy transition;</div><div><br></div><div>And showing how net zero can and must become reality. </div><div><br></div><div>Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, ultimately depends on putting an end to fossil fuels. </div><div><br></div><div>And the IEA has shown the astonishing speed at which renewables prices are falling, and renewables roll out is happening.</div><div><br></div><div>Excellencies, friends, </div><div><br></div><div>The work of the IEA is helping to demonstrate that the phase out of fossil fuels is both economically inevitable and environmentally essential. </div><div><br></div><div>The end of the fossil fuel era is assured. </div><div><br></div><div>The only questions are:</div><div><br></div><div>Will we move fast enough to limit the worst of climate chaos?</div><div><br></div><div>And will the transition to renewables be fair, just and equitable? </div><div><br></div><div>It is up to all of us to ensure the answer to both these questions is – yes. </div><div><br></div><div>Every person on earth must be connected to clean, affordable power by 2030. </div><div><br></div><div>And every community and country must benefit from the transition to clean, cheap renewables. Today, too many emerging and developing economies are being left behind. </div><div><br></div><div>We need G20 countries to lead a rapid phase out of fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>We need finance to flow to renewables – particularly by reforming the business models of Multilateral Development Banks to leverage far more private finance at reasonable cost to developing countries. </div><div><br></div><div>And we need all countries to implement the commitments made at COP28:</div><div><br></div><div>To triple global renewables capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030; </div><div><br></div><div>To accelerate the move away from fossil fuels this decade; </div><div><br></div><div>And to create ambitious new economy-wide national climate plans aligned with the 1.5-degree limit, by 2025. </div><div><br></div><div>Excellencies, friends, </div><div><br></div><div>As we look ahead, the IEA’s continued analysis, advice and coordination will be essential – throughout this crucial decade and beyond. </div><div><br></div><div>The next eighteen months are vital.</div><div> </div><div>And I invite the IEA to intensify technical support to countries preparing the next round of national climate action plans. </div><div><br></div><div>Help them create ambitious, practical plans, that are a magnet for private investment. </div><div><br></div><div>And urge them to back those plans up with credible climate policies – from regulations that support investment, to placing an effective price on carbon, to putting an end to fossil fuel subsidies.</div><div><br></div><div>Excellencies, friends, </div><div><br></div><div>The clean energy future is coming. </div><div><br></div><div>As we celebrate half a century of the International Energy Agency, let’s commit to harnessing your spirit of cooperation to bring that future into being faster. </div><div><br></div><div>Thank you. </div><div><br></div>