The COP31 leaders back electrification green industry agenda opened in Antalya on 12 November, when more than 100 national leaders and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gathered for the leaders day of the climate summit. Electrification, green industrialisation and waste reduction were set as the defining priorities of the Turkish presidency, giving the two week conference a practical focus from its first day. Leaders arrived in the Turkish resort city as the summit moved from ceremony to negotiation, with concrete pledges expected on energy, industry and waste.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened the proceedings with a call for civilisational responsibility in the face of climate change. He then co-hosted a leaders event on electrification alongside Guterres, aimed at mapping the opportunities and the obstacles that still slow the energy transition. The session brought together heads of state and government to discuss how electricity can replace fossil fuels in transport, heating and industry, and what stands in the way of faster progress.
COP31 leaders back electrification green industry with the 35 by 35 target
The COP31 leaders back electrification green industry push is built around a central target known as 35 by 35. The Turkish presidency wants electricity to reach 35 percent of final global energy consumption by 2035, up from a little more than a fifth today. Reaching that level would require a major expansion of clean power generation, stronger grids and faster adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps and electric industrial processes. The target gives negotiators a clear number to work toward over the coming days.
The COP31 leaders back electrification green industry effort also includes a new Green Industrialisation Pact launched by the Turkish presidency in Antalya. Industry accounts for about a quarter of direct global carbon dioxide emissions, and the pact aims to accelerate investment in near zero or low emission industrial production. Steel, cement, chemicals and other heavy industries are among the hardest sectors to clean up, and the pact seeks to channel finance and technology toward plants that can produce with far lower emissions.
Zero waste and methane take centre stage in Antalya
First Lady Emine Erdogan hosted a leaders event on zero waste, setting out targets to cut the growth of municipal solid waste by at least 50 percent by 2035 and to raise the circular use of materials to at least 15 percent. The COP31 leaders back electrification green industry agenda is therefore matched by a parallel push on waste, recognising that how societies use and discard materials is closely linked to emissions. Reducing waste growth would ease pressure on landfills, cut pollution and save resources.
The waste sector accounts for about 20 percent of human caused methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas. A high level dialogue on waste methane was organised in Antalya, and the One Billion Challenge was launched to mobilise action against food waste. The COP31 leaders back electrification green industry programme treats methane from waste as a fast way to cut warming, since methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term and reductions can take effect quickly.
Guterres called for greater responsibility from major polluters and suggested that fossil fuel companies should contribute more to support the countries suffering the worst effects of climate change. His message set the tone for the finance debate that will run through the summit. The COP31 leaders back electrification green industry plan gained financial backing on the same day, when the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank announced 1.6 billion dollars in climate finance for Turkey, covering climate reforms, renewable energy expansion, industrial decarbonisation and climate resilience.
The opening day in Antalya showed a presidency determined to pair speeches with deliverables. The electrification target, the green industry pact, the zero waste goals and the new finance package give negotiators a framework to build on. Whether the momentum survives the detailed talks ahead will decide if COP31 becomes known for action rather than promises, but the first day gave the summit a clear direction and a set of numbers to be judged against.