COP31 President Calls For Faster Electrification, More Climate Finance For Developing Countries

The President-designate of COP31, Murat Kurum, has called for accelerated electrification and increased climate finance for developing countries ahead of the global climate summit in Turkey, scheduled for November 2026.

Addressing the opening session of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial conference in Denmark on Wednesday, Kurum said electrification had emerged as a key theme during recent climate engagements, including meetings held in Berlin, Paris, Santa Marta and Baku.

According to him, electricity currently accounts for about 20 percent of global final energy consumption, adding that efforts should be intensified to increase its share.

Kurum said this would require both the decarbonisation of electricity generation and the expansion of electrification across sectors.

“We must make the technologies of the future accessible at scale — and we must ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.

He said the COP31 presidency would prioritise clean energy, clean cooking, resilient cities and industrial decarbonisation under its action agenda.

Kurum added that the presidency is already collaborating with key institutions, including the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Global Renewables Alliance.

The COP31 president-designate also urged stakeholders to support funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

“For billions of people living along the world’s coasts, oceans are not an abstract climate issue. They are a source of food, livelihoods, identity and security,” he said.

Kurum said national climate roadmaps should remain central to the UN climate process through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Biennial Transparency Reports and National Adaptation Plans.

He also highlighted oceans and coastal communities as major priority areas.

On climate finance, Kurum said the COP31 presidency would work to increase funding for developing countries through the Global Implementation Accelerator and recommendations under the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap.

He said COP31 would seek stronger participation from the private sector to mobilise climate finance.

“Concessional and grant-based public finance will be indispensable — especially for developing economies that need to adapt, build resilience and respond to loss and damage,” he said.

Kurum noted that donor countries would be held accountable for commitments made under the $300 billion Baku climate finance goal.

He said efforts would continue to improve access to climate finance and increase funding from UN climate funds threefold by 2030.

Kurum added that the replenishment of the Green Climate Fund this year would be critical.

“Developed countries must also submit their first biennial communications this year, showing how they will deliver their fair share of the Baku Finance Goal,” he added.

“It is easy to say we support global climate action. But promises must be kept.”