At the COP31 climate change conference in Antalya, Turkey, the European Union emphasized its support for the goal of increasing global electricity. This commitment follows an agreement among EU member states to raise the share of electricity to 35% of total global energy consumption by 2035, while the current share of this energy source is about 20%.
Agreement Among EU Member States
Three diplomats, who requested anonymity, stated that EU member states reached an agreement to support this goal after extensive negotiations and discussions. Previously, there were disagreements among member states; some countries were reluctant to support this goal due to a lack of clarity regarding the type of electricity – which should come from clean sources – while others preferred to wait for the outcomes of negotiations on national energy policies.
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Challenges and Future Expectations
At the COP31 conference, countries seeking stronger climate change policies emphasized that electricity efforts must be linked to clean energy to gradually move away from harmful fossil fuels. Meanwhile, some other countries want to keep options for using coal and gas open to meet the rising demand for electricity. The initial draft of the commitment released in September made no mention of clean energy.
These developments come as the world faces serious challenges, including climate change and the need for transformation in energy systems. These decisions and agreements are expected to be recognized as significant steps towards addressing environmental crises and promoting the use of renewable energy.
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