The world needs to get serious about electrification – here’s why
The UN climate summit COP31 has a strong focus on electrification. But is it realistic? Our analysis has the answers.
To meet climate targets, the world must transition to clean electricity powering various sectors. Currently, only 23% of global final energy demand, the energy that reaches end-users, comes from electricity. At the UN climate summit COP31 in Turkey, there's focus on electrification with a "35-by-35" pledge aiming for 35% of global final energy use to be from electrification by 2035.
This goes beyond electric cars, affecting how energy is used in transport, buildings, and industry, replacing fossil fuels with electricity, increasingly sourced from renewables. The target of 35% is based on median levels of electrification in climate scenarios that limit warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century, showing the importance of rapid electrification alongside renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Much of the needed technology already exists, but challenges remain in deploying technologies like heat pumps and electric industrial equipment, requiring increased investment in grids, storage, and policies encouraging household and business transitions from gas to electrical devices. Economic and security benefits include reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The COP31 talks present an opportunity to convert this scientific benchmark into a collective commitment.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
