Turkey and Australia Co-Host COP31 with a Focus on Electrification Amid Fossil Fuel Concerns
Top line
Despite their heavy reliance on fossil fuels, COP31 co-hosts Turkey and Australia are promoting global electrification to ease the clean energy transition.
Summary
Turkey and Australia are co-organising the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, amidst concerns regarding their ongoing reliance on fossil fuels and lack of reduction ambitions. Despite continuing coal and gas projects, the two co-hosts are promoting global electrification—urging that electricity's share of global energy consumption rise to 35% by 2035—as a strategic pathway to ease the clean energy transition.
Highlights
- Turkey and Australia are co-organising the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), held in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 to 20 November.
- Turkey is hosting the event while Australia is presiding over negotiations, prompting media concerns about potential confusion and infighting.
- Both nations face criticism for lacking ambition in reducing fossil fuel emissions, with Turkey planning to increase gas and coal capacity by nearly 30% by 2035.
- Australia, a major fossil fuel exporter, recently approved the extension of a large coal mine in New South Wales.
- Despite their reliance on fossil fuels, Turkey and Australia are championing electrification as a primary method to transition away from them.
- In September, Turkey proposed urging global businesses, investors, cities, and organisations to increase electricity's share of global energy consumption from 23% to 35% by 2035.
- Although the proposal does not explicitly mandate zero-emission electricity sources, analysts view it as a strategic approach to facilitate the clean energy transition through widespread adoption of electric vehicles and heating.
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