Australia and Türkiye have used a major global climate summit in Germany to call for a rapid acceleration of electrification worldwide, framing the transition as a critical tool for both cutting emissions and strengthening national energy security.
At the Bonn Climate Conference on Tuesday, COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum launched a landmark new global electrification target as a flagship initiative of the COP31 Presidency’s Action Agenda.
Speaking to delegates, Kurum proposed a collective goal to increase the share of final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20 per cent today to 35 per cent by 2035, a target underpinned by analysis from the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The announcement forms part of a wider package of non-negotiated Action Agenda initiatives, which also include a goal of halving global waste growth by 2035 and reducing energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25 per cent by 2035.
The COP31 Presidency committed to building a global coalition to drive implementation toward the electrification target, with a particular focus on supporting developing economies through technical assistance, capacity-building and finance.
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy and COP31 President of Negotiations, Chris Bowen, backed the call at a side event co-hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency and Australia’s Energy Efficiency Council.
Bowen argued that electrifying the global economy is the fastest available pathway to simultaneously strengthen energy security, reduce emissions and lower costs for households and businesses.
Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel reinforced the message, saying the push from both Bowen and Kurum reflected growing global momentum to place electrification at the heart of international climate efforts.
Menzel said the case for a major new electrification push in Australia was particularly strong, given the country’s vast renewable energy resources and the significant household investment already made in solar and batteries.
He argued the next priority must be accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles and shifting homes and businesses to fully electric operations, powered by renewable energy, to cut bills and reduce Australia’s exposure to global energy price shocks.
The electrification target has drawn strong endorsements from leading international bodies.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell described rewiring the global economy as essential to ending the world’s dependence on coal, oil and gas, and said the current fossil fuel cost crisis made the case for faster action more urgent than ever.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol noted that a global energy crisis was already accelerating the shift into what he called the Age of Electricity, driven by rising demand from artificial intelligence, air conditioning, electric vehicles and industry.
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said electrification was one of the most immediate, scalable and cost-effective solutions available, and that every economy accelerating the shift with renewables could reduce its exposure to volatile imported fuel prices.
In support of the target, the COP31 Presidency has commissioned the IEA to deliver special reports mapping pathways to the 35×35 goal and analysing the economic and emissions benefits of halving waste growth.
The conference continues as countries work toward COP31, scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye.