Turkey pushes 35% global electricity target for 2035 ahead of COP31

Turkey’s environment minister Murat Kurum announced a voluntary global goal to raise electricity’s share of total energy demand from about 20% today to 35% by 2035. The target is meant to cut fossil‑fuel use in transport, heavy industry and home heating by encouraging heat‑pump installations, electric vehicles and electric industrial furnaces. Ankara will seek a coalition of countries, especially developing economies, offering technical assistance, capacity‑building and finance to support electrification. The proposal will be a centerpiece of the COP31 climate summit that Turkey will host in Antalya in November, while Australia will chair the formal UN negotiations. The drive gains urgency from the Iran‑related oil shock, which has spurred EV demand in South Korea, Japan and Italy. Australian Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen and IEA executive Fatih Birol have voiced support, noting that wider electrification can boost energy security and lower costs. The wider COP31 agenda also includes goals to halve global waste growth and improve building energy efficiency by 2035.