The second day of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye, focused on the practical mechanisms needed to shift global energy systems away from fossil fuels. According to UN News, the conference addressed significant infrastructure and financial hurdles that currently impede the adoption of clean energy. The agenda included a presentation of a roadmap by Brazil, the lead country for COP30, aimed at translating previous international commitments into actionable national plans.
Brazil’s roadmap, which was first released in early November, provides indicators for countries to assess their readiness for the energy transition. Ana Toni, CEO of Brazil’s COP30 Presidency, stated that the document examines interconnected challenges related to fossil fuel demand, production, and economic consequences. Although the roadmap is voluntary rather than a binding agreement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged nations to create national plans with clear timelines and to demonstrate measurable progress by 2028. Guterres noted that continued dependence on fossil fuels has become a costly liability, citing additional import costs for the European Union and rising fuel prices across many countries.
Türkiye, the host nation for COP31, promoted its 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge. This initiative aims to raise the proportion of electricity in global energy use to 35 per cent by 2035, up from its current level of just over 20 per cent. The strategy involves expanding the use of electric buses, gas-free home heating, and electric industrial processes, contingent on a growing share of clean power sources.
A critical bottleneck identified during the sessions was the capacity of electricity grids. Dario Liguti of the UN Economic Commission for Europe reported that roughly 2,500 gigawatts of power generation and other energy projects are waiting for grid access globally. Some facilities must curtail production because existing networks cannot accommodate the output. Liguti called for the construction of millions of kilometres of new transmission lines to improve both the quantity and quality of grid infrastructure.
Financing remains a major obstacle for developing nations. Olli-Pekka Kuusela of the UNU-WIDER research institute explained that higher borrowing costs make upfront investments in solar and wind power difficult for poorer countries. He suggested that development banks could assist by offering lower-interest loans. The discussion also highlighted the need for resilient electricity systems, with examples from Zambia showing how droughts can reduce hydropower production and cause blackouts.