COP31 launches global electrification, waste targets

The COP31 Presidency has initiated a global drive to speed up climate action, introducing ambitious targets for electrification, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. These goals were announced during the Bonn Climate Change Conference.

A central objective is to raise the proportion of global final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20 percent currently to 35 percent by 2035. This target is designed to hasten the transition away from fossil fuels in sectors like transport, industry, and buildings, thereby helping the world stay on track to meet the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement.

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The target is aimed at speeding up the shift away from fossil fuels across transport, industry, and buildings, and keeping the world on track to meet the 1.5-degree Paris Agreement goal.

Furthermore, the Presidency has set a goal to cut the growth of global waste in half by 2035, aligning with a "zero waste" agenda. The announcement highlighted that food waste alone significantly contributes to global emissions.

Additionally, a third target focuses on reducing energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25 percent by 2035, as part of its resilient cities program. To support the implementation of these initiatives, COP31 will establish global coalitions. The International Energy Agency has been tasked with outlining pathways and assessing the benefits of these initiatives in preparation for COP31, which is scheduled to be held in Türkiye in November.

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food waste alone contributes significantly to global emissions.