COP31 leaders unveil global targets, with spotlight on electrification

The two countries set to lead this year’s COP31 have unveiled three headline goals for November’s UN climate summit – on electrification, waste and buildings – following six months of consultations with governments. At mid-year climate talks in Bonn, Turkish COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum and the talks’ chief negotiator, Australia’s Chris Bowen, billed the targets as a blueprint for climate action, with electrification emerging as the top priority. Bowen said he wanted this year’s COP negotiations in the Turkish city of Antalya to “take inspiration” from the targets, adding that he would push in particular for a “strong outcome” on switching from fossil fuels to electricity to run vehicles, industry and buildings. “35 by 35” goal The electrification target – dubbed the “35 by 35” goal and based on analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) – would strive to ramp up the share of final energy consumption provided by electricity to 35% by 2035 from about 20% today. That would be achieved by accelerating the switch to technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicles (EVs) and electric cookers. Murat Kurum (centre-right) and Chris Bowen (far-right) speak at a press conference in Bonn on June 9, 2026 (Photo: UN Climate Change/Lucia Vasquez) Bowen said he wants to lead a push focused on “electrifying everything that can be electrified and making sure as much of that electricity as possible is renewable”. He said electrification is “the key to transitioning away from fossil fuels”, urging negotiators to keep in mind that 2035 is just nine years away. Bonn Bulletin: Tackling climate crisis is “hardest” challenge ever, Stiell says Kurum said the COP presidency would work to forge “a strong global coalition that is ready and determined to act”, promising to facilitate access to technical assistance, particularly to developing countries. Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which wi