COP31 organizers are promoting a goal of raising electricity’s share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035, from 23% now. The article argues that tariffs on Chinese clean technologies risk slowing electrification and says renewables already supply 37% of electricity on a useful-energy basis.
The United Nations climate summit COP31, scheduled for November 9 to 20 in Antalya, Turkey, will promote a goal of raising electricity’s share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035, from 23% now. The article argues that this target understates the potential of electrification because final-energy measures do not account for energy lost when fuels are converted into motion or power.
The article says renewables already supply 37% of electricity when measured by useful energy, citing the International Energy Agency. It argues that tariffs risk slowing adoption of Chinese-made electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries, even as China’s cleantech exports face protectionist measures in the United States and European Union.
The article says renewable energy is generally faster and cheaper to install than oil, coal and gas, and avoids exposure to volatile fossil-fuel prices once installed. It argues that allowing Chinese goods into markets and encouraging manufacturers to build more factories abroad could reduce trade tensions while giving Western companies time to develop future cleantech.
