COP31 President urges world to switch on to electrification — calling for a global conversation on raising electricity’s 20% share of final energy consumption “as quickly as possible”.
COPENHAGEN, May 20 — COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum called on Wednesday for an urgent increase in the pace of electrification of the world economy, saying it was critical to the fight against climate change and to implementing the commitments made at previous COPs.
Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change in COP31 host Türkiye, said the current energy crisis had underscored the importance of renewable power generation and the national diversification of energy sources. This all pointed to the importance of increasing electricity as a power source across the globe.
“Governments, international agencies, and the private sector are increasingly focusing on electrification as a critical frontier of the transition,” Kurum told the Copenhagen Climate Ministers’ Meeting.
“Today, around 20 percent of final energy consumption is met by electricity. Together, we should aim to raise that number as quickly as possible.”
Final energy consumption refers to the energy consumed by end-users such as individuals and businesses to heat and cool buildings, run lights, devices, and appliances, and power vehicles, machines and factories.
In its Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario, the International Energy Agency says this 20% ratio needs to increase to over 27% by 2030, and more than 50% by the middle of the century.
Key drivers of this increase are likely to be the decarbonisation of transport — via the accelerated rollout of electric vehicles (EVs) — and domestic heating, in the form of electric-powered heat-pumps.
“To achieve this mission, decarbonising power generation is essential. However, it is not enough. We also need to electrify processes throughout our lives,” Kurum said.
“We want to start a global conversation about electrification.”
COP31 will be held in the Turkish coastal resort city of Antalya from Nov. 9 to Nov. 20.
