Global Electrification Target Eyes 35% by 2035
Homeowners and drivers weighing electric heating or vehicles should watch how COP31 shapes the policies behind this shift.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Should your country shift more everyday energy use to electricity?
The International Energy Agency will support electrification and methane reduction initiatives at COP31, the UN climate conference held November 9-20 in Antalya, Türkiye. The IEA participates as a strategic partner of the Turkish presidency, which aims to raise electricity's share of global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035.
Why it matters
Electricity is central to how households will heat homes, charge vehicles and power appliances as energy systems shift, so national targets for electrification shape the equipment, pricing and infrastructure readers will encounter. The IEA's role at COP31 signals that electrification and methane cuts are being pushed up the international agenda ahead of the 2035 target year.
Türkiye's presidency targets 35% electricity share of global final energy use by 2035, and IEA member and associate countries hold 87% of global clean energy investment. COP31 runs November 9-20, with the World Leaders' Summit on November 11-12.
The players
International Energy Agency (IEA)
An intergovernmental body that analyzes energy markets and policy, participating in COP31 as a strategic partner of the Turkish presidency.
Türkiye
Host country of COP31 that holds the conference presidency and prioritizes raising electricity's share of final energy consumption.
Australia
Chairs the COP31 negotiations and leads the official climate talks and the Pre-COP event in the Pacific region.
The details
The IEA is taking part in COP31 as a strategic partner of the Turkish presidency and provides technical support to UN climate negotiations through its Expert Group on Climate Change, which operates with the OECD. A special report titled "Electrification" was prepared at the request of Türkiye and Australia, and the agency plans to present a special report on methane and waste reduction at the conference. A separate report analyzing progress toward cutting global building energy intensity by at least 25% by 2035 is also being prepared.
Timeline
Throughout 2026, high-level energy transition dialogues were held in Paris, London and New York.
COP31 takes place November 9-20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
The World Leaders' Summit is scheduled for November 11-12, 2026.
The Home Front
The 35% electricity-share target is set against a backdrop where IEA member and associate countries account for about 80% of global energy consumption. The emphasis on electrification extends the same push toward electric heating, vehicles and grid capacity that governments have pursued through recent COP cycles.
If you are weighing a home heating, cooling or vehicle-charging upgrade, the electrification target signals that electric options are a long-term policy priority. Check with a licensed electrician before adding any new circuit or charger, and review local incentive programs with a qualified installer.
The takeaway
Global electrification targets point toward electricity playing a much larger role in household energy use by 2035. Before any major electrical upgrade, have a licensed professional assess your home's capacity.
What happens next
COP31 runs November 9-20 in Antalya, with the World Leaders' Summit on November 11-12, where electrification and methane reduction initiatives are expected to be discussed.
Further reading
For context on how the shift to electrification reaches everyday driving, see Electric Vehicles.
Live Poll
Should your country shift more everyday energy use to electricity?
