Türkiye’s COP31 presidency is pairing a global electrification drive with new efforts to address AI’s energy use and promote climate-focused, responsible technology.
Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency on Monday launched a global pledge to raise electricity’s share of final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035, while announcing initiatives to expand electrification and promote responsible use of artificial intelligence in climate action.
COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Minister for Environment and Urban Planning, unveiled the “35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge” at the United Nations headquarters in New York as the Turkish presidency set out its priorities for the UN climate summit in Antalya.
Kurum also announced the Antalya Pledge on Artificial Intelligence and the AI for Clean Technologies Initiative, which will address the growing energy consumption of data centres and seek to harness AI for climate action.
“A warming world, a global energy system in disarray, and growing fears of the rise of AI all demand action,” Kurum said in a statement ahead of the launch.
“COP31 will meet this moment.
“We must openly discuss AI’s growing energy consumption and it is time for governments to start setting the terms. We expect companies to be transparent about their energy use and to power their operations with clean energy. And beyond data centres, we need to electrify energy consumption throughout our lives, from buildings to transport and industry, in line with our 35-by-35 goal. Momentum behind our agenda is building and COP31 will be a critical moment to focus the world’s attention and energies on these critical priorities.”
The final text of the 35-by-35 pledge will be shared with governments and other stakeholders. It sets a global ambition for advancing electrification while recognising different national circumstances and pathways.
The pledge highlights the role of clean power, storage, system flexibility and modern, resilient grids, as well as the need to mobilise finance and strengthen international cooperation, particularly to support developing countries.
The presidency will also announce initiatives covering buildings, transport and industry, as well as electricity grids, international cooperation, capacity building and finance.
These include a global mechanism to track collective progress on electrification and an implementation forum to share knowledge and build capacity.
The initiatives will also support developing countries in identifying grid investment needs, improving project readiness and accessing finance for electrification.
Other measures include a collaborative platform to advance greener, more resilient and better-connected international freight corridors, a compact to reduce energy-use intensity in buildings by at least 25 percent by 2035, including through electrification, and a matchmaking platform to help least developed countries access finance and technology for industrial decarbonisation.
The COP31 Presidency has invited the International Energy Agency to analyse the challenges and opportunities of electrification. Its report will be published to inform a High-Level Dialogue with world leaders on Tuesday, September 22.
The presidency is also working with the International Renewable Energy Agency on an Electrification Day on Thursday, September 24. The event will assess the role of electrification in increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy, with an IRENA report due to be published on Monday.
On artificial intelligence, the presidency will launch the Antalya Pledge on Artificial Intelligence as a political pledge covering how AI is designed, procured, powered, deployed, measured and managed in support of climate and sustainable development objectives.
The pledge is being developed in cooperation with the UN’s International Telecommunication Union, with a draft to be shared ahead of COP31.
The AI for Clean Technologies Initiative will seek early action by developing a portfolio of AI-enabled clean technology pilots in priority sectors including smart energy and green industry. The pilots will be connected with industry partners and investors and will demonstrate the responsible use of AI in practice.
COP31 will also host a dedicated day on technology and AI.
The Turkish presidency is using New York Climate Week to outline its plans across its thematic priorities and build early momentum for COP31 in Antalya.
During the week, heads of state and government are expected to announce their support for electrification and responsible AI at leader-level events. Further events will engage partners on other priorities, including resilient cities and finance, on Thursday, September 24.
