Turkey climate summit targets 35% global electrification by 2035
With the U.S. absent and a new energy crisis looming, delegates in Antalya are pushing for a rapid shift toward solar power and batteries.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
Leaders from nearly every nation gather in Antalya, Turkey, for the next two weeks to negotiate at COP31. The summit arrives amid a global energy crisis sparked by the ninth month of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The conflict has closed the Strait of Hormuz, driving up oil and natural gas prices and exposing the costs of fossil fuel dependency.
Analysts argue this crisis differs from previous shocks because affordable alternatives now exist. Kingsmill Bond, an energy analyst at Ember, stated that this is the first time a global energy shock has coincided with cheap solutions. Those solutions include solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles. Many of these technologies are produced in China, offering participating nations both economic security and lower emissions.
The central goal of the conference is to raise the global electrification rate from 23% to 35% by 2035. Bond described this metric as the main mantra of the talks. Experts from financial services firm Lazard note that large solar and wind projects are now more cost-competitive than natural gas and coal. Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, emphasized that increasing green energy helps countries decarbonize faster.
A key point of contention remains the phase-out of fossil fuels. Producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia have long opposed including specific language on this topic in final agreements. In April, more than 50 countries met to discuss transitioning away from oil, gas, and coal. Over 25 of those nations are now working on a legally binding treaty to advance that phase-out. Supporters hope to attract more signatories during the Antalya session.
The United States will not send a delegation to COP31, according to a State Department email. This marks the second consecutive year the country has been absent from the main negotiations. The current administration has reduced subsidies for electric vehicles and renewable energy while halting new projects. However, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island will attend as part of a group of Democratic lawmakers.
Whitehouse said the group plans to focus on fossil fuels and carbon pricing mechanisms. He noted that the fossil fuel industry cannot remain free to pollute if the world seeks a pathway to climate safety. This stance contrasts with the earlier sentiment of Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's minister of climate change, who previously said the U.S. absence made it easier to manage difficult negotiators.
