COP31 electrification pledge: This afternoon, I’ve been watching a ministerial event and forum on the “35 by 35” pledge, being held in one of the plenary halls in Antalya.
The pledge, which is being promoted by COP31 host and co-president Turkey, is a target for electricity to make up 35% of global final energy by 2035, up from 23% today.
A key question is how many countries will sign up to the pledge. (We’ll also be watching whether the target ends up in the COP31 “cover text”.)
Here’s a list of supporters – and other positions – on the 35 by 35 target:
- Australia: “Early and enthusiastic” signatory to 35 by 35
- Ethiopian COP32 presidency: “Support[s] and endorse[s]” 35 by 35
Germany: “Wholeheartedly” supports 35 by 35 - Pakistan: “Welcomes” 35 by 35
- Norway: “Happy to confirm…joining” 35 by 35
- Fiji: “Welcome[s]” 35 by 35, but warns of risks to delivery
- EU: No explicit endorsement, backs electrification generally
- UK: No explicit endorsement, backs “clean electrification”
- Azerbaijani COP29 presidency: No explicit endorsement for “ambitious and important” target
- Palau: “Announce[d] our intention to endorse” the 35 by 35 pledge (earlier today)
- Brazil: Signalled its support (earlier today)
EDIT 11 Nov: I understand that there is a list of 15 signatories to the pledge, as well as another 32 countries that have signalled their support. We could see more public support later today.
My Carbon Brief colleagues tell me that China has also “tacitly” endorsed the goal.
(Please reply to this post or DM me if you know of other countries or blocs endorsing the target.)
Support for 35 by 35 is neither universal nor unequivocal. The comments by national ministers and representatives in the plenary hall illustrate some of the concerns.
Chris Bowen, the Australian COP31 president of negotiations (pic), said his county was an “early and enthusiastic signatory” of the 35 by 25 pledge.
He said the presidency is consulting parties on how to capture electrification in its “cover text” at COP31 – and that more countries signing up would create “more momentum” for the idea:
“I think this is a really important pledge, and I would encourage parties to really seriously consider signing up…“I would encourage all parties to actively engage with Turkey and the presidency to support the agenda – and the pledge – as much as possible.”
EU energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen – notably, given he was near the top of the list of speakers – did not make a firm commitment to supporting the 35 by 35 pledge. However, the EU’s Jørgensen did say that “we cannot achieve [security or economic resilience] without electrification”.
Next up, a representative from the incoming Ethiopian COP32 presidency – apols, I missed the name – did give firm support for the “35 by 35” pledge. She said:
“I’m very pleased to announce Ethiopia’s support and endorsement of the 35 by 35 electrification pledge…For Ethiopia, electrification is not simply an energy transition agenda; it’s a development imperative, so we will work with parties to advance this agenda.”
Fatih Birol, the head of the IEA – which has been supporting the development of the pledge – explained why “one more target” matters. Birol explained that it would send an “unmistakable signal” to the private sector, investors and markets. He said: “This signal would be: electricity is the future.”
For the UK, climate minister Katie White said “clean electrification…is about protecting households and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices, strengthening our energy independence, and getting bills down for good”.
White added that this “cannot be a transition that works only for countries with the deepest capital markets or the strongest infrastructure”. She continued: “It’s vital we address financing and investment barriers that many emerging markets and developing economies face.”
Like Jørgensen, the UK’s White did not offer a clear endorsement of the 35 by 35 pledge. But she did say: “The UK is strongly supportive of clean electrification.”
Germany’s representative said it “wholeheartedly” supports the 35 by 35 pledge.
Pakistan’s representative said that for them, electrification was a “pathway to lower energy costs, for stronger economic competitiveness, enhanced energy security and greater climate resilience”.
She “welcome[d]” the 35 by 35 pledge as a “voluntary, collective ambition” and “appreciate[d]” the fact that it did not impose binding national targets or additional reporting requirements.
Fiji also “welcome[d]” the 35 by 35 pledge, but warned of risks to delivery and implementation, including the need for finance.
COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev said the target was “ambitious and important”, but reminded delegates of the “realities we face”, including access to electricity. He also pointed to the need for implementation via concessional finance, skills and resilient grids.
“Ambition is important, but ambition without implementation support will not deliver the transformation we seek.”