Scientists have established that energy is at the heart of the climate challenge, and key to the solution, in what is known as a just transition to clean energy systems.

A large chunk of the greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat is generated through energy production by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity and heat.

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are by far the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

The science is clear: to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, GHG emissions need to be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.

To achieve this, we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in alternative energy sources that are clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable and reliable.

Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.

Unstoppable energy

Fossil fuels still account for more than 80 per cent of global energy production, but cleaner sources of energy are gaining ground.

About 29 per cent of electricity currently comes from renewable sources. Surging clean energy investment and plunging solar and wind costs now outcompete fossil fuels.

“The energy transition is unstoppable, but the transition is not yet fast enough or fair enough,” says United Nations Secretary General António Guterres.

A new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) states five reasons why accelerating the transition to clean energy is the pathway to a healthy, liveable planet today and for generations to come.

First, renewable energy sources are all around us. About 80 per cent of the global population lives in countries that are net-importers of fossil fuels- that’s about 6 billion people who are dependent on fossil fuels from other countries, which makes them vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and crises.

In contrast, renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their potential is yet to be fully harnessed.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 per cent of the world’s electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050.

Renewables offer a way out of import dependency, allowing countries to diversify their economies and protect them from the unpredictable price swings of fossil fuels, while driving inclusive economic growth, new jobs, and poverty alleviation.

The second reason why accelerating the transition to clean energy is the pathway to a healthy, liveable planet is that renewable energy is cheaper, states the IEA report.

Renewable energy actually is the cheapest option in most parts of the world today. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly. The cost of electricity from solar power fell by 85 per cent between 2010 and 2020.

Costs of onshore and offshore wind energy fell by 56 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively.

Falling prices make renewable energy more attractive all around, including to low-and middle-income countries, where most of the additional demand for new electricity will come from.

With falling costs, there is a real opportunity for much of the new power supply over the coming years to be provided by low-carbon sources.

Cheap electricity from renewable sources could provide 65 per cent of the world’s total electricity supply by 2030.

It could decarbonise 90 per cent of the power sector by 2050, massively cutting carbon emissions and helping to mitigate climate change.

Although solar and wind power costs are expected to remain higher in 2022 and 2023 than pre-pandemic levels due to general elevated commodity and freight prices, their competitiveness actually improves due to much sharper increases in gas and coal prices, says IEA.

Third, renewable energy is healthier. World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics show that about 99 per cent of people in the world breathe air that exceeds air quality limits and threatens their health, and more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes, including air pollution.

The unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide originate mainly from the burning of fossil fuels.

In 2018, air pollution from fossil fuels caused US$2.9 trillion in health and economic costs, about US$8 billion a day.

Switching to clean sources of energy, such as wind and solar, thus helps address not only climate change but also air pollution and health.

A fourth reason in its favour is that renewable energy creates jobs. Every dollar of investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel industry.

The IEA estimates that the transition towards net-zero emissions will lead to an overall increase in energy sector jobs: while about 5 million jobs in fossil fuel production could be lost by 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs would be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million jobs.

Clean shift

In addition, energy-related industries would require a further 16 million workers, for instance, to take on new roles in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and hyper-efficient appliances or in innovative technologies such as hydrogen.

This means that a total of more than 30 million jobs could be created in clean energy, efficiency, and low-emissions technologies by 2030.

Ensuring a just transition, placing the needs and rights of people at the heart of the energy transition, will be paramount to make sure no one is left behind.

Fifth, renewable energy makes economic sense, according to IEA. About US$7 trillion was spent on subsidising the fossil fuel industry in 2022, including through explicit subsidies, tax breaks, and health and environmental damages that were not priced into the cost of fossil fuels.

In comparison, about US$4.5 trillion a year needs to be invested in renewable energy until 2030 – including investments in technology and infrastructure – to allow us to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The upfront cost can be daunting for many countries with limited resources, and many will need financial and technical support to make the transition. But investments in renewable energy pay off. The reduction of pollution and climate impacts alone could save the world up to US$4.2 trillion per year by 2030.

Moreover, efficient, reliable renewable technologies can create a system less prone to market shocks and improve resilience and energy security by diversifying power supply options.

Many communities and countries are realising the economic, societal and environmental benefits of renewable energy.

Developing countries are set to benefit from the renewables boom. Guterres has outlined critical actions the world needs to prioritise in the global shift to renewable energy.

Six opportunity areas exist in what the UN chief calls “a shift in power… a shift in possibility, to a clean energy future” – climate plan ambition, modern grids, sustainable demand, just transition, trade reform, and finance for emerging markets.