“This ‘35% by 2035’ target will be one of the defining priorities of our COP31 presidency,” he added. “We will work to bring together a strong global coalition that is ready and determined to act in support of this objective.”
The plans are part of the summit’s so-called action agenda, which is designed to coordinate voluntary climate commitments, rather than the formal negotiations that require consensus from the nearly 200 governments in attendance.
Some action agenda items — such as the COP28 target to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 — have in the past found their way into the conference’s consensus agreement by the end of the summit. The Turkish presidency said that its electrification target was meant to complement the COP28 renewables goal.
Australia, which is co-hosting the summit with Turkey and is in charge of the formal negotiations, backed Kurum’s proposal.
“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,” Australian Climate Minister Chris Bowen said in a statement.
“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,” he added.