Africa Seeks Terms For Backing COP31's Global Electrification Push
The pledge aims to lift electricity’s share of global energy use to 35% by 2035, while African governments seek grants and concessional finance.
- On Tuesday, the Electrify Now Finance Coalition launched to support global electrification, backing the COP31 '35-by-35' pledge aimed at increasing electricity's share of global consumption to 35% by 2035.
- Roughly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacked electricity in 2024, prompting the African Development Bank and World Bank to prioritize expanding access through their Mission 300 initiative targeting 300 million connections by 2030.
- Utilities in the Net Zero Alliance increased annual investment commitments to $156 billion, while COP31 President Murat Kurum calls for an "Implementation COP" where "promises must be backed by capital" that delivers results.
- Power Shift Africa's Kavenuke argued for grants over loans to support grassroots communities, stating, "What we are pushing for is instead of having loans in order to finance electrification, it needs to come in terms of grants."
- Industrial development remains a key opportunity, with Sustainable Energy for All CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi stating electrification "presents an opportunity to industrialize, create jobs, improve livelihoods and strengthen energy independence." This positions electrification as transformative for Africa's economic growth.
16 Articles
16 Articles
"There is no one-size-fits-all transition, since countries have different levels of dependence, different capacities and different starting points," but all paths must lead to the same direction, Guterres stressed.
The transformation can't be left to market forces alone, writes Murat Kurum, president of COP31. For 30 years global climate talks have focused on what's…
Turkey and Australia, which share the presidency of the world conference that started on Monday in Antalya, want to rally the largest number behind a commitment to make electricity account for 35% of global energy demand in 2035.
The world needs to get serious about electrification – here’s why
Arthur Debat/GettyTo reduce climate emissions, the world needs clean electricity powering our industry, transport, homes, lighting and heating. However, much of the energy we use still comes directly from burning fossil fuels. Cars burn petrol, gas heats buildings and industrial processes burn coal and gas. Currently, only 23% of global final energy demand – the energy that reaches the final user, such as households or factories – comes from ele…
This year's climate summit will be "the meeting where the light was turned on" – with a new goal of 35 percent electrification by 2035. That is the hope of the host nations. But as always when the world's countries are to unite, there are problems.
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