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https://reneweconomy.com.au/fossil-fuels-have-run-of-road-despite-best-efforts-of-lobbyists-says-un-chief/>
"Fossil fuels have “run out of road”, the head of the United Nations said on
Tuesday, with the price of renewable energy now so cheap the energy transition
cannot be stopped – despite the best efforts of oil, gas and coal lobbyists and
their supporters.
Speaking ahead of the release of two UN reports on the energy transition, UN
Secretary General Antonio Guterres said nine in ten renewable projects globally
are cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.
He said that renewable energy is now driving growth in large, developed
economies, including in core oil producing regions such as Texas. A combination
of national security – “no embargoes on wind” – and easy access – “you can’t
build a coal plant in someone’s backyard” – meant renewables were “here to
stay”.
“The clean energy future is no longer a promise. It’s a fact,” he said. “No
government. No industry. No special interest can stop it.”
Solar was once four times the cost of fossil fuel equivalents, but according to
new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency cited by Guterres,
solar now costs two-fifths the price of oil, gas and coal.
Offshore wind developments are now half the price – 53% – cheaper than fossil
fuels.
Guterres said he expected “the fossil fuel lobby will try” and their supporters
in government will try to derail the transition but the world has now “passed
the point of no return” in its adoption of renewable energy but warned the
world needed to move faster to embrace the technology.
Climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, says the latest data
showed the future is “based on renewables” and that governments “must send a
clear signal” in their upcoming climate commitments to “go even faster.”
“Any investment in new fossil fuels now is a fool’s gamble, while joining the
race to renewables can only bring benefits – not just jobs and cheaper energy
at stable prices, but energy independence and access where it’s needed most,”
Hare said.
“Developing regions like Africa have huge energy access needs, and even bigger
renewable resources, what they need now is international finance to share in
the renewables revolution.”
“The push to develop new gas resources in places like Western Australia and
Brazil runs completely counter to this trend and risks slowing down the uptake
of renewables as well as overshooting 1.5°C Paris Agreements limit.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
