Türkiye launches ‘35 by 35’ initiative, calls for 
global coalition to drive climate action

BONN, Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (WNP): COP31 President-Designate and Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, on Tuesday launched an ambitious global electrification target aimed at accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to clean electricity across transport, buildings and industry, positioning it as a flagship initiative of the COP31 Presidency’s Action Agenda.

Addressing delegates at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, Kurum proposed a collective global goal to increase the share of final energy consumption met by electricity from just over 20 percent today to 35 percent by 2035. The initiative, dubbed the “35 by 35” target, is intended to support implementation of the Paris Agreement and help keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The proposal forms part of a broader package of non-negotiated climate initiatives unveiled by the incoming COP31 Presidency ahead of the United Nations climate summit scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, later this year.

“The Action Agenda is the driving force behind implementation,” Kurum said. “By electrifying daily life—from transport to buildings and industry—we can protect families and businesses from volatile energy markets. This 35 percent by 2035 target will be one of the defining priorities of our COP31 Presidency.”

He said Türkiye would work with partners around the world to build a strong coalition of governments, businesses, financial institutions and civil society organizations committed to advancing the electrification agenda.

Alongside the electrification target, the COP31 Presidency announced several additional goals under its Action Agenda.

These include a target to halve the growth of global waste by 2035 as part of its Zero Waste initiative, recognizing that food waste alone accounts for around 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, largely through methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.

Under its Resilient Cities agenda, the Presidency also proposed reducing energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25 percent by 2035, a move aimed at lowering energy costs for households and businesses while improving urban sustainability.

Additional initiatives under development include measures focused on food security, circular manufacturing systems, climate education and strengthening links between climate action and economic development.

Kurum also provided further details on the proposed Climate Implementation Bridge, a new mechanism intended to help countries better align climate objectives with national economic and development priorities.

The initiative seeks to improve access to climate finance and ensure that funding reaches projects on the ground more rapidly and effectively, particularly in developing economies.

The COP31 Presidency emphasized that developing countries would receive support through technical assistance, capacity-building and financial cooperation to facilitate implementation of climate commitments.

The electrification initiative has received support from major international organizations and climate leaders.

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, who will serve as President of Negotiations for COP31, said accelerating electrification would strengthen energy security, reduce emissions and protect economies from volatile fossil fuel prices.

“Electrifying the global economy is one of our practical priorities for COP31 because it is the fastest way to strengthen energy security, cut emissions and bring down costs,” Bowen said.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell welcomed the initiative, describing electrification as one of the most powerful tools available to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and achieve the goals identified through the Global Stocktake process.

To support implementation of the electrification target, the COP31 Presidency and Australia have commissioned the International Energy Agency (IEA) to prepare two special reports.

The first report will identify pathways for increasing electricity’s share of global energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035, while the second will assess the climate and economic benefits of reducing waste growth and expanding circular waste management systems.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the world was entering what he described as the “Age of Electricity,” driven by rising demand from electric vehicles, air conditioning, artificial intelligence and industrial electrification.

“The current global energy crisis is accelerating the world’s shift into the Age of Electricity,” Birol said, adding that electrification could simultaneously improve energy security and reduce emissions.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), also endorsed the target, noting that IRENA’s own roadmap supports achieving 35 percent electrification by 2035 through renewable energy deployment and grid modernization.

The proposed target builds upon commitments reached at previous climate summits. At COP28, countries agreed to work toward tripling renewable energy capacity and transitioning away from fossil fuels. COP29 further advanced commitments on energy storage, grid modernization and climate finance, including efforts to mobilize at least US$300 billion annually by 2035 for developing countries.

The COP31 Presidency said the new electrification goal represents the next logical step in translating those commitments into practical changes across economies and societies.

Officials stressed that different countries would pursue different pathways based on their national circumstances and development needs, but emphasized that global cooperation would be essential to achieving meaningful progress.

As preparations continue for COP31 in Antalya this November, the Presidency said its Action Agenda aims to deliver practical climate solutions that extend beyond negotiations and create a lasting framework for implementation through COP32 and beyond.

The initiative is being viewed as one of the most ambitious climate implementation proposals ahead of COP31, with electrification increasingly seen as a cornerstone of global efforts to reduce emissions, strengthen energy security and build climate-resilient economies.