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This year, electrification is at the heart of the UN climate talks. Rewiring Australia is at COP31 in Antalya Turkiye to share what Australian communities have learned about getting off fossil fuels.
Photo: © UN Climate Change – Kubilay Ciftci
COP31 is the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, where nearly every country comes together to negotiate how the world tackles climate change. This year it’s being held in Antalya, Türkiye, with Australia playing a key role alongside the host.
We usually prefer getting electrification done on the ground to sitting in negotiating rooms. But this year is different. For the first time, electrification is at the heart of the global climate talks, and that’s partly thanks to the work of people in Australia including the work of our founder Dr Saul Griffith and community projects like our pioneering community pilot Electrify 2515.
We’re bringing three young community leaders from our network of more than 100 community groups, with support from the Australian Government:
Türkiye’s COP31 president-designate Murat Kurum and Australia’s Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen unveiled a global electrification target, proposing to lift electricity’s share of global energy demand from 20% to 35% by 2035.
In plain terms, that means swapping machines that run on fossil fuels for ones that run on electricity, across our homes, transport and industry. The aim is to speed up the shift from fossil fuels to renewables and help shield economies from fossil fuel price shocks.
35% might sound modest. It isn’t. Electric machines are so much more efficient than petrol cars and gas appliances that hitting 35% of energy from electricity means we’ll be closer to two-thirds of the way to net Zero. In nine years.
But a target is only as good as the plan behind it. For Australia, that means:
Three community leaders, and what they have built where they live.
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Jasper, from Inner West Community Energy, is one of three community leaders travelling to COP31 as part of a Rewiring Australia delegation funded by the Australian Government.
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Next week, Sarah who started the Ride Revolution Project, will take that story to COP31 in Turkey, as one of three young climate leaders attending the summit with Rewiring Australia.
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Blake Edwards, from Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY), works with residents to make sense of their energy data and identify practical ways to lower costs.
Read the storyVictorian MPs need to hear that the people they represent want an energy system built for the future.
Ask your MP to protect policies that help families move off expensive gas, and make it easier for everyone, including renters and apartment residents, to access efficient electric homes.
When you send your message, add your own experience and tell your MP why this matters to you.
From 09-11-2026 to 20-11-2026, at the Antalya Expo Centre in Antalya, Türkiye.
Türkiye and Australia share the presidency. Türkiye's Minister for Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, is COP31 president-designate. Australia's Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen leads Australia's role.
A proposal to lift electricity's share of global energy demand from 20 per cent to 35 per cent by 2035. Because electric machines are far more efficient than the fossil fuel ones they replace, reaching 35 per cent of energy from electricity gets the world closer to two-thirds of the way through the switch.
Jasper Webster of Inner West Community Energy, Sarah Tedder of the Ride Revolution Project and Blake Edwards of Totally Renewable Yackandandah, joined by our CEO Francis Vierboom. The three community leaders are attending with support from the Australian Government.
Start with your next appliance replacement. When the gas hot water system or the petrol car finally goes, electrify. Our savings calculator and Electric Saul will show you the best first step for your home.