STATEMENT: COP31 Presidency’s Proposed Goals on Global Electrification

The COP31 Presidency today announced a proposed global goal to increase electrification from around 20% of final energy demand today to 35% by 2035.

The goal was unveiled by COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum at the Bonn Climate Change Conference and is expected to form a key part of the Presidency's agenda ahead of the summit in Antalya later this year.

The following is a quote from Jessica Isaacs, Global Impact Director, WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition:

"The COP31 Presidency's goal of achieving 35% electrification sends a strong signal that clean power must be the bedrock of the global energy transition. Clean electrification, combined with increased energy efficiency, is essential for strengthening energy security and protecting households and businesses from the price shocks that come with dependence on volatile fossil fuels.

"Electricity demand is surging, driven by electrification trends in transport and heat and compounded by new demand from AI and cooling. This growing demand underscores the urgency of scaling clean electrification in the right way. Countries must rise to the challenge by scaling up the use of clean, affordable, reliable power that reaches everyone.

"The next test is turning global ambition into action on the ground. No country will achieve clean electrification at the scale and speed required without the right policies, investment in grid expansion and flexibility, and new clean energy projects with faster permitting that bring communities along.

"Electrification must also reach communities that have been left behind. Hundreds of millions of people still lack access to electricity and clean cooking. Done right, clean electrification can be one of the most powerful tools we have to expand opportunity, improve lives, reduce inequality and drive economic development."

• Darla Bijou van Hoorn

  Media Relations Manager

• Sarah George

  Senior Manager, Strategic Communications, WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition