Turkiye Launches Global Electrification Pledge at COP31 Opening

The Government of Turkiye opened the COP31 climate conference in Antalya on Monday, centering the agenda on energy security and electrification. As part of the summit, Turkiye launched the 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, a non-binding initiative aiming to raise electricity's share of global energy demand to at least 35 percent by 2035.

Environment Minister Murat Kurum argued that electrification is necessary to protect communities from volatile global markets and to reduce emissions. The push for energy independence follows global instability caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Kurum noted that the current energy crisis has shown that imported energy is energy that a nation does not control.

The conference opens amid conflicting global strategies. While Donald Trump has encouraged maximizing fossil fuel production to counter supply disruptions, other nations remain divided between increasing coal reliance and adopting renewable technologies from China. Climate advocates have criticized the 35-by-35 pledge, arguing it is insufficient because it does not require the increased electricity to be generated from low-carbon sources.