Latest news with #SeizingtheMomentofOpportunity
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
AI should run on 100% renewable energy by 2030, UN Chief says
Synopsis UN Secretary-General António Guterres urges major tech firms to power data centers with renewable energy by 2030, highlighting the immense energy consumption of AI. The UN report reveals that while renewable energy is advancing, its adoption is unequal, with developing nations lagging. AP United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a speech on climate action "A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the New Energy Era" at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in New York. Major tech firms should commit to fully powering data centers with renewable energy by 2030, said United Nations Secretary-General António tech also must be responsible in its use of water for cooling, Guterres said Tuesday in New York City as he presented the UN's new report on the energy transition, Seizing the Moment of Opportunity, together with the International Renewable Energy Agency. 'AI can boost efficiency, innovation and resilience in energy systems, but it is also energy hungry,' Guterres said. 'This is not sustainable — unless we make it so.'A typical AI data center consumes as much power as 100,000 homes, according to the UN, and the largest centers now being built will use 20 times that. By 2030, data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan today, the report renewable energy is advancing exponentially across the world as costs fall, the transition away from fossil fuels is highly concentrated in advanced economies like the US and Europe, as well as China, the UN says. Much of the developing world is falling behind. That means clean energy is not replacing fossil energy at the pace and scale needed. Emerging geopolitical risks — including tariffs — could raise clean-energy costs in the short term, the report says. Adding vast amounts of renewable capacity will also make grids more volatile, and addressing that could bump up costs for a long-term, the cost of clean power will continue to decline, the report predicts, as technology evolves and the supply chain matures. The energy transition has reached a point of no return, Guterres said in his speech. '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.' Over 90% of new renewable projects produce electricity for less than the cheapest fossil-fuel alternative, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency. Some $2 trillion was invested in clean energy in 2024, the UN says — about $800 billion more than went into fossil clean power adoption remains deeply unequal. Africa made up just 1.5% of global investment in renewables last year, despite accounting for 85% of the world's population without access to electricity. Less than one in every five dollars invested in clean power has gone to emerging markets outside China since the Paris Agreement came into force in leaders committed to try to limit global warming to 1.5C when they signed the Paris accord. A decade later, with that goal in grave peril, nations are due to present their new emissions plans ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in in the Group of 20 produce the bulk of emissions so must lead in ambition, Guterres said.'The race for the new must not be a race for the few,' he said. 'It must be a relay — shared, inclusive and resilient.'
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
U.N. leader calls on tech industry to run data centers on 100% renewable energy by 2030
Major tech firms should commit to fully powering data centers with renewable energy by 2030, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Big tech also must be responsible in its use of water for cooling, Guterres said in New York City this week as he presented the U.N.'s new report on the energy transition, Seizing the Moment of Opportunity, together with the International Renewable Energy Agency. 'AI can boost efficiency, innovation and resilience in energy systems, but it is also energy hungry,' Guterres said. 'This is not sustainable — unless we make it so.' A typical AI data center consumes as much power as 100,000 homes, according to the U.N., and the largest centers now being built will use 20 times that. By 2030, data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan today, the report finds. Although renewable energy is advancing exponentially across the world as costs fall, the transition away from fossil fuels is highly concentrated in advanced economies like the U.S. and Europe, as well as China, the U.N. says. Much of the developing world is falling behind. That means clean energy is not replacing fossil energy at the pace and scale needed. Emerging geopolitical risks — including tariffs — could raise clean-energy costs in the short term, the report says. Adding vast amounts of renewable capacity will also make grids more volatile, and addressing that could bump up costs for a time. But long-term, the cost of clean power will continue to decline, the report predicts, as technology evolves and the supply chain matures. The energy transition has reached a point of no return, Guterres said in his speech. '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.' Over 90% of new renewable projects produce electricity for less than the cheapest fossil-fuel alternative, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency. Some $2 trillion was invested in clean energy in 2024, the U.N. says — about $800 billion more than went into fossil fuels. But clean power adoption remains deeply unequal. Africa made up just 1.5% of global investment in renewables last year, despite accounting for 85% of the world's population without access to electricity. Less than one in every five dollars invested in clean power has gone to emerging markets outside China since the Paris Agreement came into force in 2016. World leaders committed to try to limit global warming to 1.5C when they signed the Paris accord. A decade later, with that goal in grave peril, nations are due to present their new emissions plans ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November. Countries in the Group of 20 produce the bulk of emissions so must lead in ambition, Guterres said. 'The race for the new must not be a race for the few,' he said. 'It must be a relay — shared, inclusive and resilient.' Millan writes for Bloomberg.
Japan Today
23-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
U.N. says booming solar, wind and other green energy hits global tipping point for even lower costs
By SETH BORENSTEIN The global switch to renewable energy has passed a 'positive tipping point' where solar and wind power will become even cheaper and more widespread, according to two United Nations reports released Tuesday, describing a bright spot amid otherwise gloomy progress to curb climate change. Last year, 74% of the growth in electricity generated worldwide was from wind, solar and other green sources, according to the U.N.'s multiagency report, called Seizing the Moment of Opportunity. It found that 92.5% of all new electricity capacity added to the grid worldwide in that time period came from renewables. Meanwhile, sales of electric vehicles are up from 500,000 in 2015 to more than 17 million in 2024. The three cheapest electricity sources globally last year were onshore wind, solar panels and new hydropower, according to an energy cost report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Solar power now is 41% cheaper and wind power is 53% cheaper globally than the lowest-cost fossil fuel, the reports said. Fossil fuels, which are the chief cause of climate change, include coal, oil and natural gas. 'The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing,' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in Tuesday morning speech unveiling the reports. 'We are in the dawn of a new energy era. An era where cheap, clean, abundant energy powers a world rich in economic opportunity.' 'Just follow the money,' Guterres said, quoting the reports that showed last year there was $2 trillion in investment in green energy, which is about $800 billion more than in fossil fuels. Still, United Nations officials said the switch to renewable energy, while remarkable compared to 10 years ago, is not happening fast enough. The global renewables growth has been mostly in developed countries such as China — where one-tenth of the economy is tied up in green energy — as well as countries such as India and Brazil. Yet Africa represented less than 2% of the new green energy capacity installed last year despite having great electrification needs, the reports said. United Nations officials blamed the high cost of capital for the Global South. 'The Global South must be empowered to generate its own electricity without adding to already unsustainable level of debts,' said Bahamian climate scientist Adelle Thomas of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Thomas, who did not work on the reports, added that they debunk the myth that clean energy cannot compete with fossil fuels, instead showing a clean energy future is not just possible but likely inevitable. The U.N. reports are 'right on the money," said University of Michigan environment dean Jonathan Overpeck, who also wasn't part of the studies. He said the economic tipping point leads to a cycle that keeps driving renewable costs down and makes fossil fuel power less and less desirable. And renewables are booming despite fossil fuels getting nearly nine times the government consumption subsidies as they do, Guterres and the reports said. In 2023, global fossil fuel subsidies amounted to $620 billion, compared to $70 billion for renewables, the U.N. report said. But just as renewables are booming, fossil fuel production globally is still increasing, instead of going down in response. United Nations officials said that's because power demand is increasing overall, spurred by developing countries, artificial intelligence data centers and the need for cooling in an ever warmer world. 'A typical AI data center eats up as much electricity as 100,000 homes,' Guterres said. 'By 2030 data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan does today.' So Guterres called on the world's major tech firms to power data centers completely with renewables by 2030. In the United States, solar and wind power had been growing at a rate of 12.3% per year from 2018 to 2023, the IRENA report said. But since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year, his administration has withdrawn the nation from the landmark Paris climate accord and cut many federal renewable energy programs, with a renewed emphasis on fossil fuels. Guterres warned nations hanging on to fossil fuels that they were heading down a dangerous path that would make them poorer not richer, without naming the United States specifically. 'Countries that cling to fossil fuels are not protecting their economies, they sabotaging them. Driving up costs. Undermining competitiveness. Locking in stranded assets,' Guterres said. Renewables are the smart way to go for energy security, Guterres said. With renewables, he said, 'there are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on wind.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
See - Sada Elbalad
23-07-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
UN Report Calls for Urgent Shift to Clean Energy in 'Moment of Opportunity
Ahmed Emam The United Nations has released a major new report urging immediate global action to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, describing the current moment as a historic opportunity to reshape the world's energy systems for the better. Titled 'Seizing the Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the New Energy Era of Renewables, Efficiency, and Electrification,' the report was prepared by the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Team, with the support of UN specialized agencies, funds, programs, and leading international institutions. It offers a comprehensive overview of the global energy landscape and makes the case for why a rapid shift toward renewables, electrification, and energy efficiency is not only necessary, but economically and socially beneficial. UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the report in a special address delivered at 9:00 a.m. ET, highlighting what he called a 'hopeful story' emerging from the global climate crisis — the rise of a new energy era. He described the decline of fossil fuels as both inevitable and essential, and emphasized the vast economic and humanitarian benefits of embracing clean energy systems. 'The future is clear,' Guterres said. 'The only question is whether we move fast enough to meet it.' The report outlines the global imperative to scale up renewable energy infrastructure, electrify key sectors such as transportation and heating, and improve energy efficiency across the board. It stresses the need for bold leadership and international cooperation to ensure that the transition is inclusive and equitable, particularly for developing countries most vulnerable to climate change and energy poverty. In his address, the Secretary-General called on governments, industry leaders, and financial institutions to act swiftly and decisively. He warned that the window for meaningful action is closing fast, but insisted that the tools and technologies needed to drive transformation are already within reach. 'This is not just a climate emergency — it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape our economies, improve lives, and build a future powered by clean and affordable energy,' Guterres said. The report is expected to play a central role in upcoming international climate discussions and will serve as a foundation for mobilizing greater investment and political will ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil in 2026. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI should run on 100% renewable energy by 2030, UN Chief says
Major tech firms should commit to fully powering data centers with renewable energy by 2030, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Big tech also must be responsible in its use of water for cooling, Guterres said Tuesday in New York City as he presented the UN's new report on the energy transition, Seizing the Moment of Opportunity, together with the International Renewable Energy Agency. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Product Management Digital Marketing Data Analytics Data Science Finance Leadership Public Policy MCA Healthcare Cybersecurity Operations Management Technology Project Management Data Science CXO PGDM Management Design Thinking healthcare MBA others Artificial Intelligence Degree Others Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details 'AI can boost efficiency, innovation and resilience in energy systems, but it is also energy hungry,' Guterres said. 'This is not sustainable — unless we make it so.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo A typical AI data center consumes as much power as 100,000 homes, according to the UN, and the largest centers now being built will use 20 times that. By 2030, data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan today, the report finds. Although renewable energy is advancing exponentially across the world as costs fall, the transition away from fossil fuels is highly concentrated in advanced economies like the US and Europe, as well as China, the UN says. Much of the developing world is falling behind. That means clean energy is not replacing fossil energy at the pace and scale needed. Live Events Emerging geopolitical risks — including tariffs — could raise clean-energy costs in the short term, the report says. Adding vast amounts of renewable capacity will also make grids more volatile, and addressing that could bump up costs for a time. But long-term, the cost of clean power will continue to decline, the report predicts, as technology evolves and the supply chain matures. Bloomberg The energy transition has reached a point of no return, Guterres said in his speech. '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.' Over 90% of new renewable projects produce electricity for less than the cheapest fossil-fuel alternative, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency. Some $2 trillion was invested in clean energy in 2024, the UN says — about $800 billion more than went into fossil fuels. But clean power adoption remains deeply unequal. Africa made up just 1.5% of global investment in renewables last year, despite accounting for 85% of the world's population without access to electricity. Less than one in every five dollars invested in clean power has gone to emerging markets outside China since the Paris Agreement came into force in 2016. Bloomberg World leaders committed to try to limit global warming to 1.5C when they signed the Paris accord. A decade later, with that goal in grave peril, nations are due to present their new emissions plans ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November. Countries in the Group of 20 produce the bulk of emissions so must lead in ambition, Guterres said. 'The race for the new must not be a race for the few,' he said. 'It must be a relay — shared, inclusive and resilient.'
