COP31 opens in Antalya as Turkiye promotes global electrification pledge

The United Nations climate conference COP31 is set to open in Antalya, Turkiye, with the host country placing electrification at the centre of the agenda. Turkiye is launching a non-binding Global Electrification Pledge, described as a "35 by 35" initiative, which aims to raise electricity to 35% of global energy demand by 2035. The conference is taking place against the backdrop of a wider energy-security debate and renewed concern over fossil fuel dependence.

Turkiye says the pledge is intended to speed up the shift to renewable energy while strengthening energy security. Murat Kurum, the COP31 president and Turkiye's environment minister, said on Thursday that the current energy crisis had shown the risks of imported energy. He said electrification would protect communities from volatile global markets and cut emissions.

He also said COP31's aim was to "usher in the age of electricity". The proposal comes as electricity currently accounts for about one-fifth of global total final energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency. Turkiye's plan is one of several priority areas at the conference, alongside zero waste, methane reduction, climate-resilient cities, green industrialisation, education and implementation of national climate plans.

The pledge is not binding, and climate advocates have criticised it for not requiring additional electricity to come from low-carbon sources. That criticism has opened a broader debate over whether electrification alone should be treated as climate progress. 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.

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At the same time, many oil and gas producing countries argue that fossil fuels can remain part of the energy mix if paired with technologies that reduce or capture emissions. The disagreement reflects the continuing divide between countries prioritising rapid decarbonisation and those focused on energy security and supply stability. The summit is also being shaped by the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran, which has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up fuel prices globally.

Governments have been scrambling for alternative sources of energy as markets react to the disruption. In that context, Turkiye is presenting electrification as both a climate measure and a response to energy insecurity. The timing gives COP31 added significance because it is taking place while governments are under pressure to balance emissions goals with immediate supply concerns.

What remains unclear is how much support the pledge will attract and whether it will lead to concrete commitments beyond the conference. It is also not yet clear how countries will address the criticism that more electricity does not automatically mean cleaner electricity. The coming days in Antalya are likely to show whether COP31 can produce a shared roadmap or whether divisions over fossil fuels and energy transition will dominate the talks.

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