Electrification rises to centre stage at Bonn pre-Cop31 talks

Electrifying transport, heating and industry could be the next big step away from fossil fuels, replacing much of the 80% of global energy still supplied by hydrocarbons. Using electricity is far more efficient than combustion, so the shift could halve global energy demand and save billions of dollars for consumers and businesses, according to one estimate.

After years at the margins of climate policy, electrification took centre stage at preparatory talks in Bonn ahead of Cop31. Turkey, backed by Australia as co‑president of Cop31, has proposed a target of 35% of final energy coming from electricity by 2035. Murat Kurum, Turkey’s environment minister, said: “Without electrification, we won’t be able to reach any of the targets [of the Paris agreement], so we must go through this transformation.” The Bonn talks otherwise offered little to cheer.

Turkey, Bonn

electrification, transport, heating, industry, fossil fuels, hydrocarbons, electricity, energy demand, cop31, bonn