COP31 Presidency Proposes the "35-by-35" Global Electrification Pledge: Why India May Not Sign
The presidency of COP31 (the UN climate conference being held in Antalya, Türkiye) asked countries and businesses to join a "35-by-35" global electrification pledge.
The pledge aims to raise electricity's share of the world's final energy consumption (the energy people and industries actually use) from about 23% today to 35% by 2035. It would do this by moving transport, buildings and industry from fuels to electricity.
The 35% figure is based on analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) of what the world needs to stay on a path that limits warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The pledge is voluntary. It is part of the Presidency Action Agenda, which runs outside the formal negotiations. Many countries, including India, welcomed it in principle but may not formally sign it.
India is expected to say that such voluntary initiatives must stay separate from the negotiations, and that uniform global targets must respect national circumstances. In India, electricity is roughly 22% of total final energy consumption; oil, coal and gas make up the rest.
In its opening statement, India reaffirmed its support for climate multilateralism and the principles of equity and CBDR-RC, and said public finance from developed countries remains central to climate action in developing countries, including adaptation finance.
Electrification of Final Energy Demand
Electrification means using electricity, instead of burning coal, oil, gas or wood, to do everyday work like moving vehicles, cooking, heating and running factories. It is measured as the share of electricity in final energy consumption, which is the energy that homes, vehicles and industries actually use at the end of the chain. Electric motors and heat pumps waste far less energy than engines and boilers, so electrifying usually cuts total energy demand. But electrification only cuts emissions fully when the electricity itself comes from clean sources.
The COP31 presidency has made electrification its headline goal through the voluntary "35-by-35" pledge. Understanding what "share of final energy" means helps you see why moving from 23% to 35% in about a decade is a very large shift for every country, including India.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that helps countries move to clean energy. It works on all types of renewable energy: solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal and ocean energy. IRENA does not build power plants or give large loans. Its job is to collect data, study costs and pathways, give policy advice and bring countries together. It is headquartered in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The "35-by-35" electrification target was built on analysis by IRENA and the IEA of what a 1.5°C-aligned energy system needs. So when COP31 talks about raising electricity to 35% of final energy by 2035, it is using IRENA's pathway numbers as its scientific base.
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
CBDR-RC is a basic principle of global climate law. It says all countries share the duty to protect the climate, but they do not have to do the same amount. Rich countries caused most past emissions and have more money and technology, so they should lead and help poorer countries. Developing countries can act according to their own capacity and development needs.
India's likely reason for not signing the voluntary "35-by-35" pledge rests on CBDR-RC. India says it will do its fair share, but a single global electrification target, set outside the formal negotiations, may not match national circumstances in a country where electricity is only about 22% of final energy use.
- COP31 venue: Antalya, Türkiye; COP31 President: Murat Kurum.
- "35-by-35" pledge: raise electricity's share of global final energy consumption from about 23% to 35% by 2035.
- Basis of the target: IEA and IRENA analysis of a 1.5°C pathway.
- Nature: voluntary, part of the Presidency Action Agenda, outside formal negotiations.
- India's electricity share in final energy consumption: about 22%.
- India's opening statement at COP31 was delivered by the Union environment secretary, stressing equity, CBDR-RC and public climate finance from developed countries.
- IRENA: founded 2009 (Bonn), HQ Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, 171 members (January 2026); India the 77th signatory (17 March 2009).
- Global renewable capacity end-2025: about 5.15 TW; tripling target for 2030: about 11.2 TW (IRENA, September 2026).