Governments Must Heed COP31 Presidency’s Urgent Call for Electrification

Governments Must Heed COP31 Presidency’s Urgent Call for Electrification

350.org welcomed COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum’s call to urgently increase the pace of global electrification, made at the Copenhagen Climate Ministers’ Meeting today.  Climate campaigners however urged governments to heed this call for electrification by raising revenues through windfall taxes on fossil fuel profits, accompanied by concrete plans to phase out fossil fuels.

Clémence Dubois, 350.org Head of Global Campaigns said: 

“There is no doubt that electrification is urgently needed and a permanent tax on the fossil fuel industry can bridge the gap between promise and reality. G7 governments are sitting on the answer to the crisis of unaffordable energy. Fossil fuel companies are making their biggest profits yet, while households around the world can’t afford their energy bills. Tax those windfall profits and use revenues to accelerate electrification and deliver energy justice.”

Efe Baysal, 350.org Turkiye Country Manager said: 

“The COP31 Presidency rightly recognizes the importance of decarbonizing through rapid electrification. But we cannot electrify at the scale and pace we need if electrification plans are not accompanied by a fossil fuel phase-out. To truly combat the climate crisis and build resilience against future shocks, we must leave fossil fuels behind as we electrify our economies.

Within this framework, we would also like to remind Turkey that it needs to do its homework as the host country for COP31, and needs to announce a clear coal phase-out schedule as a first step.

ENDS