Turkiye will launch a non-binding pledge at COP31, the UN climate conference opening Monday in Antalya, calling for electricity to account for at least 35 percent of global energy demand by 2035. Electricity currently represents about one-fifth of global total final energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency.
Turkiye's environment minister and COP31 president Murat Kurum framed electrification as a solution to energy insecurity. "Energy that you import is energy that you do not control," he said on Thursday. "Electrification is the answer. It protects communities from volatile global markets and cuts emissions."
Climate advocates have criticized the pledge, noting it does not require that additional electricity come from low-carbon sources. A coalition of countries, including South Pacific island nations vulnerable to sea level rise, is pushing for a clearer global roadmap away from fossil fuels.
Oil and gas producing countries including Saudi Arabia argue fossil fuels can remain part of the global energy mix if paired with emissions reduction or capture technologies. The conference's other priority areas include zero waste, methane reduction, climate-resilient cities, green industrialisation, education and implementation of national climate plans.