COP31 president-designate Murat Kurum has launched a new global electrification target as a flagship initiative of the COP31 presidency’s Action Agenda, calling for a major acceleration in the shift from direct fossil fuel use to clean electricity across buildings, transport and industry. 

This comes as part of a wider package of non-negotiated Action Agenda initiatives and targets announced by the COP31 president-designate on Tuesday.

Speaking to delegates at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, Mr Kurum, Türkiye’s environment minister, proposed a collective global goal to increase the share of final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20 per cent to 35 per cent by 2035.

The COP31 presidency also committed to building a global coalition to implement actions towards achieving this target.

The target is based on analysis from the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency and is designed to support implementation of the Paris Agreement and help keep the world on a pathway consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

“Accelerating the energy transition will ease shocks to our energy systems, better protect our economies and households from high costs, and help keep bending the curve of emissions downwards,” said Chris Bowen, Australia’s energy and climate minister and president of negotiations for COP31. “That’s why electrifying the global economy is one of our practical priorities for COP31 — because it’s the fastest way to strengthen energy security, cut emissions and bring down costs.”

During a presentation on the presidency’s Action Agenda, Mr Kurum also announced other targets, including a goal to halve global waste growth by 2035. This ambition is part of COP31’s thematic focus on achieving zero waste. Food waste, in particular, accounts for 10 per cent of global emissions, primarily methane, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

The COP31 presidency also introduced a new global target under its Resilient Cities priority, to reduce energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25% by 2035. This is an important step in protecting families and businesses from rising energy costs.

In addition, Mr Kurum also shared details on new initiatives and targets being developed by the presidency. These include critical topics such as food security, circular materials in manufacturing and climate education.

He also shared further details on the Climate Implementation Bridge, which will support countries by improving the link between national climate, economic and development priorities, helping finance reach the ground more rapidly and with greater impact.

In support of the electrification target, the COP31 presidency, in partnership with Australia, has commissioned the IEA to deliver special reports to map out pathways to achieving the ‘35×35’ target and to analyse the benefits of halving waste growth and boosting circular waste management systems. 

This follows the COP31 Presidency’s existing work with IRENA to identify how electrification can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, noted that electrification “has already sparked” a global surge in clean energy, driving growth and jobs. 

“Rewiring the global economy is crucial to kick the world’s addiction to coal, oil and gas, to bring energy costs down, and to restore energy security. Now’s the time to step up the pace and scale of electrification, as the current fossil fuel cost crisis shows so painfully. 

“So too, more resilient and energy-efficient cities and cutting waste are key to tackling the climate crisis, which is already hitting every economy and global supply chains, and driving up inflation. The Brazilian COP30 presidency introduced the alignment of the Action Agenda with the first Global Stocktake outcomes, setting six thematic axes — and the incoming Turkish presidency, working with Australia, is to be commended for building on that progress,” Mr Stiell explained.