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NEW DELHI: With the West Asia crisis bringing electrification of economy back into focus, the countries participating in dialogues to deal with challenges of climate change may by the year-end agree to a new global target of electricity meeting 35% of the world’s energy demand by 2035.A proposal to this effect was made by the COP31 Presidency of Türkiye when it announced a new “35×35” global electrification target — an increase in share of electricity in world’s overall energy demand from just over 20% at present to 35% by 2035 — at the ongoing mid-year UN climate meeting in Bonn, Germany on Tuesday.The target is based on analysis from International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and is designed to support implementation of the Paris Agreement and help keep the world on a pathway consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels. It aims for a major acceleration in the shift from use of direct fossil fuels (oil and gas) to clean electricity (from renewables and nuclear) across buildings, transport and industry.The ongoing Bonn meeting (June 8-18) will set an action agenda for the year-end UN climate conference (COP31) scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye in Nov.“By electrifying daily life, from transport to buildings and industry, we can protect families and businesses from volatile energy markets. This ‘35% by 2035’ target will be one of the defining priorities of our COP31 Presidency. On the road to COP31 in Antalya, we will work to bring together a strong global coalition that is ready and determined to act in support of this objective,” said COP31 president-designate Murat Kurum.In support of the electrification target, the Presidency, in partnership with Australia, has commissioned IEA to deliver special reports to map out pathways for achieving the “35×35” target.During a presentation on the Presidency’s action agenda, Kurum also announced other targets, including a goal of halving growth in global waste by 2035. He also introduced a new global target under its resilient cities priority to reduce energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25% by 2035.
