Turkey and Australia Propose 35% Global Electrification Goal at COP31
Turkey and Australia are urging COP31 nations to pledge that electricity will power 35% of the global economy by 2035 to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
The Government of Turkey and the Government of Australia are urging nearly 200 nations at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya to adopt a global electrification goal. The proposal calls for governments to pledge that electricity will account for 35% of global final energy use by 2035, an increase from the current 20%. The initiative aims to lower emissions by replacing fossil fuel-powered heating and vehicles with electric alternatives.
While Turkey manages the voluntary action agenda and Australia leads formal negotiations on climate finance and the just transition mechanism, both nations face criticism for their own heavy reliance on coal. Portugal's Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho has challenged the proposal, arguing that electrification must be linked to renewable sources to be effective. She advocated for "clean electrification," stating that electricity should come from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels.
The summit, which runs until November 20, includes 91 heads of government and 70,000 delegates. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to present a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels and may propose a 2% global wealth tax on billionaires. These discussions occur as a United Nations report warns that global temperatures are set to reach at least 1.8C, overshooting the 1.5C threshold established at COP21.
