African, Asian And Pacific Leaders Endorse Rooftop Solar Declaration At COP31

A coalition of governments, including Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Vanuatu, has endorsed the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration at the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, backing an initiative to double the number of solar-powered households worldwide to 300 million by 2030.

The declaration has also secured endorsements from 34 individual members of parliament across 21 countries, alongside organisations in the energy industry, including Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company, PT PLN.

It calls on national, state and local governments to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar and household energy storage by simplifying permits, expanding access to affordable finance and modernising electricity grids to accommodate distributed generation.

Other priorities include integrating rooftop solar into energy and climate policies, ensuring equitable access for households and expanding training to develop a skilled local workforce.

The declaration supports the 300 Million Solar Homes initiative, which seeks to overcome barriers to household solar adoption, including high upfront costs, permitting requirements and shortages of skilled workers.

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. and Pakistan’s climate change minister, Musadik Masood Malik, also joined discussions on the initiative.

Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who serves as COP31 president of negotiations, said rooftop solar could reduce household bills and give consumers a greater role in the energy transition.

“Australia knows the power of rooftop solar. One in three Australian homes has solar panels on their rooftops, the highest rate in the world, which cuts bills and puts households at the centre of the energy transition,” Bowen said.

“The Global Rooftop Solar Declaration is about taking Australia’s success to the world with a clear ambition: to bring solar to 300 million rooftops by 2030.”

He said many countries had sufficient sunshine, space and demand but lacked the finance, infrastructure and workforce needed to expand deployment.

Ibrahim A. Shelleng, senior special assistant to Nigeria’s president on climate finance and stakeholder engagement, said investment in solar infrastructure could support economic stability, create jobs and strengthen energy independence.

“A sustainable future cannot be built in isolation. By supporting global solar initiatives, we ensure that every community, regardless of geography, has access to reliable, affordable, and zero-emission power,” he said.

Mirana Mahrukh, secretary of the Power Division at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, said the country aimed to install 5,500 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity by 2030, covering about 870,000 rooftops.

Under a proposed financing arrangement, domestic funding would support 20% of the targeted rooftops, or about 174,000, while international cooperation would be needed for the remaining 696,000, she said.

“We invite our global partners to join Bangladesh in mobilising affordable financing, advanced technologies, and investment to transform our rooftops into engines of clean energy, economic opportunity, and sustainable development,” Mahrukh said.

Global Solar Council Chief Executive Sonia Dunlop urged more governments to support the initiative.

“Families everywhere deserve reliable, affordable power, and rooftop solar and storage deliver it,” she said.

Heidi Lee Douglas, chief executive of advocacy group Solar Citizens, said rooftop solar paired with batteries could lower electricity costs, improve energy security and expand access to clean power.

“Together, 300 million solar homes could empower one billion solar citizens worldwide by 2030, putting power back into the hands of people,” she said.

The initiative’s backers said the endorsements built on growing demand for distributed solar. They cited expanded electricity access for 5.3 million people in Nigeria through decentralised solar and rising demand for rooftop solar and storage in Bangladesh as prices fall.