By Ogeyi Ebinyi
World leaders and development partners have renewed calls for an accelerated transition to clean energy as the world marked the International Day of Clean Energy 2026, warning that the pace of change must quicken to protect people and the planet.
Speaking in a message to commemorate the day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the world was at a critical turning point in the fight against climate change.
“The science tells us we are heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees Celsius,” he said, stressing that the task now is to make that breach “as small, as short, and as safe as possible” through a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. Guterres noted that renewables are now the cheapest source of new power in most regions and, for the first time last year, generated more electricity globally than coal.
He added that clean energy offers multiple benefits beyond emissions reduction, particularly for communities without reliable power. According to the UN, about 666 million people still lack access to electricity, with more than 85 per cent of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. “Renewable energy connects communities still left in the dark, provides clean cooking, and opens the door to better health, education and opportunities,” Guterres said, while also creating jobs, lowering energy costs and shielding economies from geopolitical shocks.
In Nigeria, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu urged citizens to embrace renewable energy and sustainable technologies, describing environmental protection as a shared responsibility. She said the shift to clean energy is essential for survival, healthy living and long-term environmental stewardship, aligning with her advocacy initiatives, including the National Environmental Club and Environment Society, aimed at promoting environmental awareness across the country.
Energy poverty remains a major barrier to development in many parts of the world. Experts say the lack of reliable electricity undermines education, healthcare and economic opportunities, while continued dependence on polluting fuels entrenches poverty. An estimated 1.5 billion people in rural areas still rely on unsafe and inefficient cooking methods such as burning wood or dung, contributing to millions of premature deaths each year. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, the number of people without access to clean cooking solutions is increasing by about 14 million annually due to population growth.
Despite gradual progress, global efforts are still falling short of Sustainable Development Goal 7, which targets universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030. Data show that installed renewable capacity per capita in developing countries has risen steadily, reaching about 341 watts per person, up from 155 watts in 2015, but analysts say this growth must accelerate significantly to meet global targets.
Energy production remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, with more than 75 per cent of global emissions linked to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat and cooking. Scientists agree that limiting climate change will require a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and increased investment in renewable sources such as solar, wind, water, waste and geothermal energy, which emit little to no greenhouse gases.
January 26 also marks the founding anniversary of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions through policy guidance, data, innovation and international cooperation. As global leaders reiterated during this year’s observance, the roadmap is clear: tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, lowering financing costs for developing countries and ensuring that the clean energy transition leaves no one behind.
