The UK is backing the global pledge to electrify homes, transport, and economies, promoted this week at the UN’s 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) climate summit.
Speaking at the summit jointly hosted by Türkiye and Australia, COP31 President of Negotiations Chris Bowen says the proposed 35% electrification target by 2035 requires a more than fourfold increase globally.
“We’ve been improving electrification by 0.3% a year. We need to lift that. Global electrification was 17% in 2005, 19% in 2015, and now we’re at 23%. So, it would be a very big lift to get to 35% but it has to be done.”
The UK government says clean electrification is critical to delivering its existing UN commitments, which include tripling renewables, doubling energy efficiency, and transitioning away from fossil fuels by 2030.
Currently, less than a quarter of the world’s energy is supplied through electricity.
Under the 35-by-35 pledge, countries will work together to increase electricity’s share of global energy to 35% by 2035, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and boosting homegrown clean energy.
The pledge aims to bolster energy security following several years of global instability and fossil fuel price shocks. Global electricity demand is now growing more than twice as fast as overall energy demand, driving countries to adopt clean electricity for homes, transport, and industry.
UK’s electrification progress
The UK has announced more than £110 billion ($212.76 billion) for electrification since July 2024, securing enough homegrown clean electricity to power 23 million homes.
Great British Energy is also rolling out rooftop solar to almost 500 schools and hospitals across the UK to cut energy costs and redirect funding to frontline services.
Up to £1 billion has also been made available to support more than 1,000 community energy projects across the UK — giving local communities a stake in the clean energy transition.
In September 2026, electric vehicle (EV) sales hit a record with nearly 100,000 vehicles sold, while drivers may save up to £1,400 annually in running costs by switching to EVs.
Further, plug-in solar panels have become available for households, capable of supplying up to 20% of a typical home’s electricity use and cutting bills by up to £110 annually.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Main image: COP31
