Africa holds more than half of the world’s solar energy potential, yet the continent only accounts for a tiny 1.5% of global renewable energy capacity. That shocking contrast has prompted UN Secretary-General António Guterres to sound the alarm, saying Africa is being left behind in the global clean energy race.

In a powerful new speech titled “A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the New Energy Era,” Guterres said the rest of the world is cashing in on the clean energy boom while Africa is watching from the sidelines.

“Follow the money,” he said. “$2 trillion went into clean energy last year and Africa barely got a slice.”

The numbers are hard to ignore. Countries like China, India, Brazil, and the EU are pumping billions into solar, wind, and other renewables. Clean energy now powers jobs for nearly 35 million people and is driving massive economic growth up to 10% globally in 2023 alone.

Meanwhile, Africa, rich in sun, wind, and resources is lagging dangerously behind.

“It’s not just an energy gap. It’s an opportunity gap,” Guterres warned. “The future is green, and Africa risks being stuck in the past.”

He also pointed to dramatic drops in renewable costs: solar energy is now 41% cheaper than fossil fuels, and offshore wind is 53% cheaper. “Renewables are no longer expensive dreams, they’re smart business,” he added.

Back in Abuja, a panel of African energy experts agreed that the continent’s biggest problem isn’t resources, it’s political will. They called on governments to create the right environment for investors and stop making clean energy projects feel like a gamble.

Guterres didn’t hold back: “The biggest threat to energy security today isn’t a lack of oil, it’s our dependence on it.”