In a video message to the 2026 International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial Meeting in Paris on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, called on governments to advance coordinated international action to manage the global transition away from fossil fuels.
In his address, Guterres urged producer and consumer countries, developed and developing nations, as well as public and private finance actors, to come together to sequence the decline of fossil fuel investment with the rapid scale-up of clean energy – with clear milestones, strong finance for developing countries, protection for workers and communities, and alignment with the 1.5°C limit.
His words: “I am pleased to address the International Energy Agency’s Ministerial Meeting.
“We have entered the age of clean energy.
“Renewables are now the cheapest, fastest and safest source of new electricity almost everywhere.
“Investors know it: last year, two trillion US dollars flowed into clean energy – nearly twice as much as into fossil fuels.
“Those who lead this transition will lead the global economy of the future.
“Yet some fossil fuel interests remain hell-bent on slowing progress;
“Spreading disinformation; pretending that a transition is unrealistic or unaffordable.
“Let’s tell it like it is:
“The world’s addiction to fossil fuels is one of the greatest threats to global stability and prosperity.
“Three-fourths of humanity lives in countries that are net importers of fossil fuels;
“Dependent on energy they do not control – at prices they cannot predict;
“Watching development budgets siphoned into fuel bills;
“At the constant mercy of geopolitical turmoil and supply disruptions.
“This insecurity is baked into the system.
“We must stop treating the transition away from fossil fuels as taboo.
“Delay will only breed instability.
“History is littered with the wreckage of failed transitions – broken economies, scarred communities, and lost opportunities.
“We face a choice:
“Design the transition together – or stumble into it through crisis and chaos.
“That is why today, I am calling for a dedicated global platform for honest dialogue on transitioning away from fossil fuels.
“This platform must bring together producers and consumers, developed and developing countries, public and private financial institutions and civil society.
“It must be a space to sequence the decline of fossil fuel investment with the rapid scale-up of clean energy;
“And to deliver a global transition plan that aligns investment, energy security and climate goals – with concrete milestones and robust finance, particularly for developing countries;
“This shift must be fair, orderly, affordable, and aligned with 1.5°C – protecting workers and communities and connecting hundreds of millions of people to modern energy services.
“I urge you to help us create this platform and move faster, together.
“This is how we cut emissions, strengthen energy security, power development, and build lasting stability.
“The IEA has helped make the clean energy transition undeniable.
“Now let’s make it unstoppable.”
Reacting to the speech, Alex Rafalowicz, Director of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said: “This is welcome leadership and vision from the UNSG. The development of this platform is already happening. 18 countries are actively participating in discussions on a Fossil Fuel Treaty to establish mechanisms that can allow all countries to engage in, and commit to, a faster and fairer phase out of fossil fuels.
“The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, to be held in Santa Marta, Colombia, is the first stop on this journey and all countries that are seriously committed to the 1.5C limit should be there. We expect that out of Santa Marta we will have more proposals and commitments that can feed into the COP Presidency Roadmap and into broader processes, like the development of a new Treaty to deliver the global just transition plan we need.”