Guterres urges fossil-fuel exit as Turkey promotes electrification at COP31
At COP31 in Antalya, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said fossil-fuel dependence carries economic and security costs, citing the EU’s more than €100 billion in extra import costs since the Middle East conflict began. He said nine oil companies are on track to earn more than €87 billion (US$95 billion) in three months, while Turkey is pushing a pledge to raise electricity’s share of global energy use to 35% by 2035; the pledge does not require that the power be low-carbon.
Bottom line — The 35-by-35 pledge targets 2035, but Turkey’s draft leaves the electricity’s carbon source open.
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Guterres said petrol prices rose around 26% and diesel prices 38% across 130 countries, according to UNifeed.
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The UN said Brazil’s voluntary roadmap calls for national transition plans with clear timelines and financing needs, and measurable progress by 2028.
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Turkey’s draft pledge says the use of clean electricity and technologies will differ among countries, Turkish Minute reported.
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UN News reported that around 2,500 gigawatts of energy projects are waiting for grid connections worldwide.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said output from the Gabar fields would exceed 100,000 barrels a day in the second half of 2027, Reuters reported.
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The UN said Guterres proposed taxing fossil-fuel windfall profits to help fund the transition and shield families from future price shocks.