Enviro News Asia, London – A coalition of countries, private-sector representatives, and civil society organizations launched the “Electrify Now” campaign at the Global Summit on Energy Transition and Electrification during London Climate Action Week, establishing a global initiative to accelerate low-carbon electrification.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the launch, said the age of clean electrification has arrived, but that the speed and scale of grid construction, storage deployment, investment mobilization, and infrastructure delivery remain the defining challenge.
The initiative builds on commitments made at COP28, where the UAE Consensus and the First Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement called for tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, while establishing a framework for transitioning away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner toward net zero by 2050.
COP30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago said decisions already taken at COP30 and the Global Stocktake from Dubai provide a clear mandate for the direction ahead, with many plans announced in Belém directly touching on electrification.
The COP31 Presidency, held by Türkiye, has proposed a global target of 35 percent of final energy demand to be met by electricity by 2035 as part of its Action Agenda, with Global Action Agenda activation groups already mobilized to advance this priority.
“Momentum around a ’35 by 35′ target for COP31 is already building, as progress in the real economy demonstrates that this mission is achievable. Our task as political leaders is now to guide and further accelerate that progress,” said COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum, adding that the Antalya summit in November will broaden the global conversation on electrification.
A recent survey of global business leaders found that 91 percent see electrification as key to strengthening energy security and resilience, and that 82 percent want their country powered mainly by renewable electricity.
Lago also confirmed that a roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels, to be released shortly before COP31, will place electrification at its center. The launch event was co-organized by the UK Government, E3G, the Global Renewables Alliance, and the We Mean Business Coalition. (*)
