Young people seize the mic as UN sounds alarm on fossil fuels

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared that the fossil fuel age was “flailing and failing,” young people across the globe — including in India — are taking matters into their own hands.

Mr. Guterres gave a special address at UN Headquarters in New York on 22 July on what he called the “unstoppable” forces behind the global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.

His speech, A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age, was delivered alongside the release of a new UN technical report that highlights the falling costs of renewable energy sources.

As Mr. Guterres spoke, watch parties and other events were held in more than 45 countries, including at UN House in New Delhi.

Here, the UN Country Team, led by the Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp and the UN agencies working on climate action, hosted a dynamic event bringing together youth activists, climate action groups, think tanks and the private sector.

The live viewing of the Secretary-General’s speech was followed by a high-level panel discussion linking that to local examples of innovation and leadership.

Panellists and audience members alike stressed the need for investment in public awareness and education so that young people in particular have the tools and the inspiration to effect lasting changes in their own communities.

One audience member, Manan Singh, a youth activist who works with UNEP India underlined the scale of what is needed to change mindsets. “We’re not just setting climate goals – we're setting a new normal,” he said.

Hina Saifi, a climate fellow with UNICEF, focused on the importance of ensuring rural youth can adopt clean energy solutions. “This is not a project – it's a daily need,” she said.
 

Click here to read the full text of United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres's climate address titled, 'A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age' 

For more details on the address, click here to read the story from UN News.