Global Electrify Now Campaign Targets 35 Percent Final Energy Share by 2035 as COP31 Preparations Intensify

The strategic landscape of international climate policy underwent a significant shift during London Climate Action Week, as the push for global electrification moved from a secondary technical concern to a primary pillar of the road to COP31. Central to this transition was the formal launch of the "Electrify Now" campaign, an initiative designed to galvanize international support for a transformative energy target first introduced during the Bonn climate talks earlier this year. The campaign advocates for electricity to account for 35% of the world’s final energy consumption by 2035, a substantial increase from the current level of approximately 20%. This objective is now positioned as a definitive benchmark for the upcoming COP31 summit in Türkiye, where the success of the negotiations will likely be measured by the ability of member states to provide a concrete roadmap for replacing fossil fuels with clean electricity across transport, heating, and industrial sectors.

The Electrify Now Campaign and the 35% Milestone

The Electrify Now campaign arrives at a critical juncture in the global energy transition. While the expansion of renewable energy capacity—specifically solar and wind—has dominated headlines, the actual utilization of that energy in the form of electricity remains restricted by aging infrastructure and a reliance on internal combustion engines and gas-based heating. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity currently satisfies just over one-fifth of global final energy consumption. To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, this share must nearly double within the next decade and a half.

The proposed 35% target for 2035 represents more than just a numerical increase; it signifies a structural overhaul of how modern societies function. Mohamed Adow, director of the think tank Power Shift Africa and a leading voice at London Climate Action Week, emphasized that the transition to electricity is the most efficient pathway to decarbonization. Because electric motors and heat pumps are inherently more efficient than their fossil-fuel-burning counterparts, increasing the share of electricity in the energy mix allows for a reduction in total primary energy demand while maintaining the same level of economic output.

Chronology of the Electrification Movement

The path to the 35% target has been paved by a series of incremental diplomatic milestones over the last two years.

1. COP28 (Dubai, December 2023): The "UAE Consensus" saw nearly 200 countries agree to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, critics noted that tripling capacity would be futile without a corresponding increase in demand-side electrification and grid modernization.
2. The Bonn Climate Change Conference (June 2024): During technical negotiations in Germany, delegates began circulating the idea of a specific "electrification mandate." It was here that the 35% figure was first floated as a necessary mid-term goal to bridge the gap between 2030 renewable targets and 2050 net-zero ambitions.
3. London Climate Action Week (June 2024): The formalization of the Electrify Now campaign provided a public platform for this target. It transitioned from a technical suggestion in negotiating rooms to a high-profile advocacy goal supported by civil society and energy experts.
4. The Road to COP29 and COP30: Looking ahead, the electrification agenda is expected to be a major component of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance to be discussed in Baku (COP29) and the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) due in Brazil (COP30).
5. COP31 (Türkiye, 2026): This summit is being framed as the "Electrification COP," where the 35% target is expected to be codified into international policy frameworks.

The African Context: Bridging the Energy Access Gap

For Africa, the push toward 35% electrification by 2035 is a dual-edged sword, representing both a formidable developmental hurdle and a unique opportunity to leapfrog 20th-century industrial models. Currently, the continent faces a staggering energy deficit; approximately 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live without access to basic electricity. This lack of access hampers healthcare, education, and economic productivity.

However, Mohamed Adow and other African energy analysts argue that this deficit provides a "clean slate" advantage. Unlike industrialized nations in Europe and North America, which must dismantle trillions of dollars worth of existing coal and gas infrastructure, many African nations can build their energy systems around renewables from the outset. This "leapfrogging" mirrors the telecommunications revolution in Africa, where many regions bypassed landline infrastructure entirely in favor of mobile networks.

To achieve this, the African continent requires a massive influx of capital. Despite possessing 60% of the world’s best solar resources, Africa currently accounts for only about 1% of global installed solar capacity. The Electrify Now campaign highlights that for Africa to contribute to and benefit from the 35% target, international finance must shift from high-interest loans to concessional financing that accounts for the lower risk profile of renewable projects compared to fossil fuel exploration.

Supporting Data and Economic Implications

The shift to 35% electrification carries profound economic implications for the global market. The IEA’s "Net Zero by 2050" scenario suggests that to stay on track, annual investment in clean energy must rise to $4 trillion by 2030.

• Efficiency Gains: Electric vehicles (EVs) are roughly three to four times more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles. Similarly, air-source heat pumps are 300% to 400% efficient compared to gas boilers, which peak at around 95%.
• Grid Investment: Achieving the 2035 target will require the addition or replacement of 80 million kilometers of power lines globally—an amount equal to the entirety of the existing global grid.
• Job Creation: The transition is projected to create nearly 30 million new jobs in clean energy, efficiency, and low-emissions technologies by 2030, though it will simultaneously see a decline of roughly 5 million jobs in fossil fuel industries.

Data from BloombergNEF indicates that while the transition is capital-intensive upfront, the long-term savings on fuel costs and health expenditures related to air pollution could save the global economy upwards of $12 trillion by 2050.

Stakeholder Reactions and Geopolitical Dynamics

The launch of the electrification target has elicited a range of responses from global stakeholders. Environmental NGOs have largely welcomed the clarity of the 35% target, noting that it provides a tangible metric for holding governments accountable. "We cannot simply talk about ‘clean energy’ in the abstract anymore," said a spokesperson for a prominent European climate coalition. "We need to talk about the wires, the batteries, and the end-use appliances that make that energy useful."

Conversely, some industrial sectors have expressed caution. The "hard-to-abate" sectors—such as heavy shipping, aviation, and steel manufacturing—warn that while electrification is viable for light transport and residential heating, it remains technologically challenging for high-heat industrial processes. These sectors are calling for a more nuanced approach that includes green hydrogen and carbon capture alongside electrification.

From a geopolitical perspective, the focus on COP31 in Türkiye is significant. Türkiye sits at a crossroads of energy transit between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. By hosting a summit centered on electrification, Türkiye has the opportunity to position itself as a hub for green energy technology and cross-border grid integration.

Analysis: The Challenges of Infrastructure and Equity

While the 35% target is technically feasible, the primary obstacles remain political and financial. The "Electrify Now" campaign must address the "cost of capital" disparity. In many developing nations, the interest rates for renewable energy projects are three to five times higher than in developed economies, largely due to perceived political risk. This creates a paradox where the countries with the greatest need for clean electrification are the ones least able to afford the initial investment.

Furthermore, grid stability remains a critical concern. A world where 35% of final energy is electric requires a sophisticated "smart grid" capable of handling the intermittent nature of solar and wind power. This necessitates a massive rollout of battery storage and long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies. Without these, the transition could lead to instability in power supply, potentially undermining public support for climate policies.

Conclusion: The Path Forward to 2035

The move to place electrification at the center of the road to COP31 marks a maturing of the climate movement. It reflects a shift from setting distant, aspirational goals to defining the specific mechanical and economic changes required in the immediate term. The 35% target for 2035 serves as a bridge between the tripling of renewables promised in Dubai and the ultimate goal of a carbon-neutral world.

For the international community, the success of this agenda will depend on whether COP31 can produce more than just "negotiated text." It will require a binding commitment to infrastructure investment, a restructuring of global climate finance to support the Global South, and a coordinated effort to modernize the world’s electrical grids. As London Climate Action Week concluded, the message from advocates like Mohamed Adow was clear: the era of fossil-fuel-based development is closing, and the race to a fully electrified future has officially entered its most critical phase.