Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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January 26, 2026 Sustainable Development Goals
More than 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels for energy. The lack of a reliable and clean energy supply hinders development in education, healthcare, and the economy.
Thus, many developing regions still rely heavily on polluting fossil fuels for daily life, exacerbating poverty among their populations. An estimated 1.5 billion people in rural areas still use unsafe, unhealthy, and inefficient cooking methods, such as burning wood or dung. This causes an estimated 3.2 million premature deaths annually.
INInternational Clean Energy Day, which is celebrated on January 26, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on countries to accelerate the global energy transition.
Accelerate progress
The installed capacity of renewable energy sources per capita continues to grow annually and in developing countries has reached a new high of 341 watts per person, up from 155 watts in 2015.
"The world is changing, but we must accelerate“,” the UN chief said in his message, emphasizing that the task of the international community is to make it possible temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius"as small, short and safe as possible" through a fair and orderly transition away from fossil fuels.
According to the Secretary-General, renewable energy sources are already becoming a key driver of transformation. In many regions, they are the cheapest source of new energy, and last year, for the first time globally, wind, solar, and other "green" energy sources generated more electricity than coal.
Guterres noted that clean energy not only helps combat climate change but also promotes development: it provides access to electricity for those still living without it, provides safer cooking methods, improves health and education outcomes, creates jobs, and reduces countries' vulnerability to geopolitical upheavals and price volatility in fuel markets. According to the UN, every dollar invested in renewable energy creates three times more jobs than investment in fossil fuels.
Just transition
However, Guterres emphasized that the pace of transition must be accelerated. Energy grids are failing to keep pace with the growth of renewable energy capacity, and high financial costs continue to leave many developing countries behind.
The Secretary-General called for tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, removing administrative and financial barriers and ensuring access to clean energy for households and industry. He emphasized the importance of modernizing power grids, developing energy storage systems, and diversifying supply chains, including in the energy sector. critical minerals.
Particular attention, he said, must be paid to a just transition – protecting workers and local communities, supporting education and creating new economic opportunities.
The Secretary-General recommended that the financial sector reduce the cost of capital for developing countries, and that multilateral development banks more actively mitigate risks and attract private investment.
"Clean energy is the future that is already here," Guterres said. "Let's seize this moment and bring the renewable energy revolution to every corner of the world."
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