GNV News, 12 November 2026

A Turkish-backed proposal to increase electricity’s share of global energy consumption to 35 per cent by 2035 is facing resistance at the United Nations climate conference (COP31), as countries disagree over whether the target should require electricity to come from clean energy sources. The debate highlights the challenge of expanding electricity access to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The proposal, known as the 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, was introduced by Türkiye, co-president of this year’s climate negotiations. It aims to raise electricity’s share of global final energy consumption from approximately 23 per cent to 35 per cent by 2035. Supporters of the proposal say achieving the target is ambitious, requiring the world to electrify at four times its current pace.

The target was first announced on 9 June 2026 in Bonn, Germany, by Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s environment minister and president-designate of COP31. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the initiative was part of Türkiye’s wider climate action programme, which also included targets on waste reduction and energy efficiency in buildings.

On 21 September, the COP31 presidency formally introduced the 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge. The document recognised that countries would follow different electrification pathways according to their circumstances and retained national governments’ authority over their energy policies. However, it did not make the use of exclusively clean electricity a condition for meeting the target.

On 10 November, the initiative gained a financial component with the launch of the Electrify Now Finance Coalition, an international partnership involving governments, development banks and private investors. The African Development Bank and World Bank were announced as co-leaders of the initiative from 2027. Its purpose is to mobilise investment for electricity infrastructure in developing economies. The coalition is also expected to help governments prepare investment projects and improve access to financing.

However, the proposed target has encountered disagreement over its relationship with fossil fuels. On 11 November, Reuters reported that the proposal did not require additional electricity to come from renewable or other clean sources. Critics argue that increasing electricity consumption without ensuring cleaner generation could prolong dependence on coal, oil and gas.

The proposal remains under discussion at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. Whether governments can agree on stronger links between electrification and clean energy generation remains unresolved.

Electricity transmission tower, UK (Photo: Stephen Burton / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 2.0])