Murat Kurum, president-designate of COP31 and Turkey’s minister of environment, urbanisation and climate change, outlined the rationale behind a newly announced electrification target in an interview. The “35 by 35” initiative aims for electricity to comprise 35% of the world’s final energy consumption by 2035, with Kurum emphasizing that the specific figure was derived from technical analysis by the International Energy Agency and International Renewable Energy Agency rather than political considerations.
Kurum framed the electrification target as a response to urgent global energy security concerns, particularly citing recent geopolitical tensions affecting energy markets. He characterized the transition to renewables and electrification as the most reliable and environmentally responsible approach to insulating citizens from volatile energy prices. The target is intended to serve as a unifying benchmark that aligns governments, businesses, and investors around shared climate objectives.
Support for the initiative has been robust among key stakeholders. The EU, UK, and Canada have expressed backing, as have the presidencies of COP30 and COP32 held by Brazil and Ethiopia respectively. Business sentiment has been similarly favorable, with polling data indicating that 90% of businesses anticipate largely completing electrification of their operations by the target year, and 88% believe the transition will enhance competitiveness.
Regarding implementation, Kurum noted that the initiative will be pursued as an “action agenda” separate from formal COP negotiations, though complementary to them. He identified critical sectors for achieving the target as buildings, transport, and industry, which collectively account for approximately 45% of global emissions. The initiative builds on previous commitments to expand renewable capacity, with Kurum noting Turkey’s own goal to reach 120 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2035. Financial support for developing nations and investment in grid infrastructure were highlighted as essential components.
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