LONDON — UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a keynote speech on June 23, 2026, at London Climate Action Week, calling for a fast, fair transition to clean energy and new regulations on AI data centers.

"These crises may seem separate but they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels," Guterres said. "And they demand the same answer: a fast, fair transition to clean energy and a surge in adaptation, resilience and climate justice for those already facing climate harm." The UN plan for energy independence aims for global emissions to peak immediately and reach net zero by 2050.

The plan includes requirements for major AI companies to disclose the environmental impact of their data centers and stipulates that AI data centers must be powered by renewable energy by 2030. "Every major AI company should measure and publicly disclose the full environmental impact," Guterres said, referring to carbon, water and land footprints. He stated that by 2030, AI data centers could use enough water to meet the basic needs of all 1.3 billion residents of sub-Saharan Africa for an entire year.

"The good news is – unlike every past energy crisis – we now have a clear way out, a clean way out," Guterres said. He noted that between 2010 and 2026, the cost of solar energy decreased by almost 90 percent, onshore wind energy costs decreased by more than 70 percent, and battery storage costs decreased by 95 percent. "There are no embargoes on sunlight and no blockades on the wind," he added. Guterres also stated that renewables have avoided more carbon dioxide emissions than the combined annual emissions of the U.S., the E.U. and Japan.

Addressing methane pollution, Guterres cited historical successes in phasing out leaded gasoline and eliminating ozone-depleting chemicals. "The world phased out leaded gasoline. We eliminated ozone-depleting chemicals. Methane pollution must be next," he said. Regarding fossil fuel profits, Guterres said, "The eight largest fossil fuel companies reported pocketing an extra $6.5 billion in the first quarter of this year alone…I urge governments to tax them to help vulnerable families and communities and accelerate the shift to clean, affordable energy." The eight largest fossil fuel companies reported $6.5 billion in additional profits in the first quarter of 2026. Guterres also called for developed countries to meet their commitment to double adaptation finance, with a trajectory toward tripling it.

"The transition itself is no longer in question," Guterres said. "It will be either managed or chaotic, fair or unequal, a source of stability or of greater division; and these choices are still ours to make." He called for support for the move to clean energy to be driven forward by the UN Climate Conference COP31 in Türkiye.