Turkiye opens COP31 in Antalya, pushing electrification to 35% of global energy by 2035

Turkiye opened COP31 in Antalya on Monday, pushing electrification as the central climate agenda with a pledge to raise electricity's share of global energy demand to 35 percent by 2035. The non-binding "35 by 35" initiative targets a jump from electricity's current one-fifth share of final energy consumption, aiming to boost renewable adoption and energy security, though critics note it lacks low-carbon sourcing requirements. The conference unfolds amid the US-led war on Iran disrupting oil shipments, prompting some Asian nations to increase coal use, while island states push for a clearer fossil fuel phase-out roadmap.