United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has urged countries to accelerate the transition to clean electricity, warning that dependence on fossil fuels exposes economies to rising costs and energy insecurity.

Mr Guterres made the call during a high-level dialogue on clean energy transition and electrification, titled ‘35 by 35: Powering the Future’, in Antalya, Türkiye.

He said the crisis in the Middle East had exposed the economic consequences of fossil fuel dependence, noting that three out of every four people live in countries that are net importers of fossil fuels.

According to him, disruptions occurring thousands of kilometres away could increase the cost of transportation, business operations and food, adding that reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels was essential to energy security.

Mr Guterres called for accelerated electrification across transportation, heating, cooling and industrial sectors, alongside efforts to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy-efficiency improvements by 2030.

He also warned that new oil and gas projects and import terminals could lock countries into high costs and stranded assets for decades.

On electricity infrastructure, the UN chief said approximately 3,000 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage projects were awaiting grid connections, four times the wind and solar capacity connected worldwide last year.

He said the backlog had increased by 60 per cent in one year, urging governments to modernise electricity grids, expand storage facilities, accelerate connections and strengthen cross-border power systems.

Mr Guterres mentioned that the United Nations was working with governments, development banks and investors through its Global Grids Accelerator to advance electricity infrastructure projects, starting in Africa and South-East Asia. He also called for increased financing to make clean electricity affordable and accessible, particularly in developing countries.

According to him, emerging and developing economies outside China receive only about one dollar out of every five invested in clean energy, while many face borrowing costs two to three times higher than those of advanced economies.

He urged shareholders of multilateral development banks to provide the institutions with more resources and flexibility to take investment risks, while calling for increased guarantees and concessional financing.

Mr Guterres said investments should also reach communities awaiting their first electricity connections, lower household energy bills, support clean industries and provide workers with the skills and social protection needed during the transition.

He urged countries to leave the Antalya dialogue with clear commitments on the sectors they would electrify, how they would power them cleanly and how they would finance the transition.