Turkey, Australia Push 35% Electricity Target by 2035 as Bonn Climate Talks Stall
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 20
Turkey, Australia Push 35% Electricity Target by 2035 as Bonn Climate Talks Stall
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 20
Summary
Turkey, backed by Australia, proposed making electricity 35% of final energy use by 2035, turning electrification into the standout initiative at the Bonn talks ahead of Cop31.
21% of global final energy now comes from electricity, but advocates say wider use of EVs, heat pumps and electrified industry could halve energy demand and save trillions of dollars through far higher efficiency.
The push emerged as the two-week negotiations ended Thursday with major disputes unresolved, including objections led by Saudi Arabia and other countries to language reaffirming climate science and the 1.5C goal.
Climate finance also remained a major fault line, with poorer countries accusing developed nations of bad faith over adaptation funding even as negotiators saw more constructive movement on a just transition.
Cop31 hosts now face an uphill fight to turn the electrification target into a formal outcome, with U.S. absence and resistance from Saudi Arabia, some Gulf states, India and Russia weighing on the process.
With clean energy investment booming, why are global climate negotiations still hitting a political wall?
When powerful nations attack climate science in UN talks, is the 1.5C survival goal politically impossible?
If climate aid is a legal duty, what will force wealthy nations to pay their massive adaptation debt?
"35% by 2035: The New Global Electrification Target and Its Role in Accelerating Climate Action"
Overview
Launched in June 2026 by COP31 leaders and spearheaded by Turkey and Australia, the '35% by 2035' Electrification Target is a major new global climate initiative. Its main goal is to accelerate electrification efforts worldwide by significantly increasing the share of electricity in total energy consumption across key sectors by 2035. This target highlights the crucial role of electrification in decarbonizing economies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By setting a clear and ambitious objective, the initiative aims to drive urgent action, foster innovation, and support the global transition to sustainable energy systems.