Fatih Birol, the Director General of the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated in a Financial Times column that the world is entering a new transformation, signaling the beginning of the end for the fossil fuel era.
He warned that the peak in coal, oil, and natural gas consumption will likely occur before 2030, after which a gradual decline will follow as clean energy becomes more widespread and energy mobility accelerates.
Birol’s remarks were accompanied by a reminder that the shift toward cleaner power sources is already underway, with climate policies steering global energy trends toward decarbonization. This shift is framed as the opening chapter of a broader energy transition, one that requires preparedness for a new era in global energy systems.
He underscored that the current turning point calls for renewed political will to boost green investment and cut pollution. While the world stands at this pivotal moment, Birol urged policymakers to double down on financing for green initiatives and to push for lower emissions across sectors.
Last year, the IEA anticipated that the peak would arrive around 2030, but recent momentum in renewable technology deployment over the past year has led to revisions in that forecast.
Birol also pointed to structural changes in Asia, noting that China is reducing its heavy industry footprint and shifting toward less electricity-intensive activities and services. At the same time, solar, wind, and nuclear power are acting to limit China’s coal growth potential.
Renewables surpass fossil fuels in Europe for the first half of the year
In a historic development, renewable energy produced more electricity in the European Union than fossil fuels during the first half of the year. A report from Ember highlights that coal and gas are increasingly costly and risky, while the EU is pushing toward carbon neutrality by 2050, which reduces reliance on traditional fossil sources.
The data show that 33 percent of Europe’s electricity came from coal and gas in the period, while renewables reached 36 percent. Fossil energies contributed 410 terawatt-hours in the EU during January to June, marking the lowest share in the electricity mix to date. Wind and solar accounted for more than two-thirds of the renewables’ 36 percent share.
This energy mix shift reflects Europe’s policy direction and market dynamics, combining a decline in nuclear energy with an accelerated roll-out of wind, solar, and other clean technologies. The result is greater energy autonomy for the EU and less exposure to external suppliers for power needs.
The broader implication is a regional move toward cleaner energy, stronger resilience, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, supported by ongoing investments and policy commitments across member states.
— End of excerpt from the environmental department notes and public energy analyses.