The We Mean Business Coalition, a climate non-profit organization, has called on the COP31 Presidency to prioritize closing the electrification implementation gap at this year's climate summit in Antalya. The coalition emphasizes that electrification is central to COP31's Action Agenda, with Türkiye and Australia supporting a 35×35 ambition to increase electricity's share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035. The coalition stresses that turning momentum into deployment is crucial.
According to the We Mean Business Coalition, the implementation gap has been a recurring issue in their research. If progress is not accelerated, countries will face increased energy insecurity, volatile prices, and decreased industrial competitiveness and investment. Businesses will encounter higher costs, delayed projects, and tougher decisions about capital allocation. The Electrification Competitiveness Index reveals that in most economies analyzed, policy, infrastructure, and enabling conditions are ahead of actual deployment.
The Electrification Competitiveness Index also found that China is furthest ahead in terms of actual electrification. In contrast, the US risks losing momentum, while major European economies such as Germany, the UK, Italy, and Poland struggle to translate strong policy frameworks into comparable progress on the ground. The index highlights the need for countries to bridge the gap between policy and deployment.
The We Mean Business Coalition's call to action comes as governments prepare to gather in Antalya for COP31. The coalition emphasizes that closing the electrification implementation gap should be a defining test of this year's climate summit. By prioritizing electrification, countries can address energy insecurity, promote industrial competitiveness, and attract investment.
The 35×35 ambition, backed by Türkiye and Australia, aims to raise electricity's share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035. Achieving this goal requires significant progress in electrification deployment. The We Mean Business Coalition's research underscores the importance of addressing the implementation gap to ensure that countries can meet their energy and climate goals.
The consequences of inaction will be severe, with businesses facing higher costs and delayed projects. Countries that fail to address the implementation gap risk being left behind in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The We Mean Business Coalition's call to action highlights the need for urgent and collective action to close the electrification implementation gap.
As COP31 approaches, the We Mean Business Coalition's recommendations will likely feature prominently in discussions around electrification and climate action. The coalition's emphasis on closing the implementation gap serves as a reminder that ambition must be matched by action on the ground. The outcome of COP31 will be closely watched, particularly in terms of progress on electrification and the 35×35 ambition.
Key points
- We Mean Business Coalition urges COP31 Presidency to prioritize closing electrification implementation gap
- 35×35 ambition aims to raise electricity's share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035
- China is furthest ahead in actual electrification, while US and European economies face challenges in turning policy into deployment progress
