The European Union and the United Kingdom are leading a coalition of dozens of countries in a drive to secure a COP31 pledge that would electrify 35% of global energy use by 2035. The initiative, described by proponents as a "powerful weapon" against fossil fuels, seeks to transform the international climate strategy by prioritizing direct electrification of transport, heating, and industry over continued reliance on oil and gas.
If adopted, the target would represent a near-tripling of the current global share of electricity in final energy consumption, according to analysts. Climate modelers estimate that achieving 35% electrification by 2035 could cut annual CO2 emissions by roughly 2.5 billion tonnes, accelerating the decline of coal and natural gas demand across the power and transport sectors.
The economic case is built on rapidly falling costs of renewable power and heat pumps. The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has argued that faster electrification "will put money back into people's pockets" through lower household energy bills and reduced exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices. The pledge is expected to unlock tens of billions in investment for grid infrastructure, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging networks.
The push comes amid a broader geopolitical realignment on climate action. Both the EU and UK are positioning electrification as a central pillar of their Nationally Determined Contributions ahead of COP31. The coalition is seeking to align with the Paris Agreement goals by coupling the electrification target with a phase-down of unabated fossil fuels, though major producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Russia have resisted such language.
Critics warn that the 35% target may be technologically unfeasible within a decade for many developing economies, which lack the grid capacity and capital to sustain such a rapid shift. Some energy analysts caution that over-reliance on one solution could crowd out investment in other decarbonization tools like hydrogen or carbon capture, potentially slowing overall emissions reductions if infrastructure bottlenecks emerge.