Five Minutes With Electrify Now’s Anna Freeman: Fewer than 10% of G20 countries have an electrification plan

During the 2026 UN Climate Change conference, COP31, held in Antalya, Türkiye this year, we spoke to Anna Freeman, Global Campaign Coordinator for Electrify Now about the “35x35” electrification push.

Q: What is the Electrify Now campaign? Who’s part of it and what does it aim to do?

The COP31 Presidency has set a target of moving from about 23 per cent of final energy use being from electricity today, to 35 per cent by 2035 to align with 1.5 degree [global warming] scenarios. This is known as 35x35. At the moment, we're moving at about a quarter of the speed that we need to move at. There is a big task ahead – for governments, businesses, households, and consumers – to really invest in and go faster in adopting electrification.

That’s why we launched Electrify Now at London Climate Action Week 2026. We have almost 60 organizations internationally, business representative voices, think tanks, and civil society organizations, as well as 16 governments and the European Commission, who are all standing up together and talking about the importance of electrification and the global energy transition.

We also need to get a move on with providing first-time electrification for those that do not have it. Around 655 million people today still do not have access to electricity. This can improve quality of life, but also supporting economic development in a range of countries worldwide. This is a big task, but it's always been part of what we need to do.

This campaign is putting electrification on the map, ensuring that it’s a clear part of the energy transition pathways that every country on Earth is adopting. We are also ensuring that we support each other in order to deliver this.

Q: Why is electrification so important to the energy transition?

Electrification helps us advance the existing global energy transition goals, such as the goal for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, and the goal of doubling energy efficiency rates by 2030 – the 'Double Down, Triple Up'.

Renewable energy is three times more energy efficient than burning fossil fuels to produce the same output of energy. It supports the transition by reducing the demand for fossil fuels at the source: by switching to clean energy. It also creates an incentive for more renewable energy investment in projects across the world, becoming an investment and business driver.

We need to work together. Countries and businesses can learn from each other. To keep momentum going, we need to elevate the case studies, share knowledge, look at where the financing gaps are, and problem solve together to make sure that we can get there.

Q: What does the Electrify Now campaign want to deliver at COP31?

We’ve made significant progress by raising the profile of electrification, which the COP31 Presidency has championed since June. Now, we need governments to commit. We are looking for leaders this week to signal that electrification is a key priority.

According to the International Energy Agency, while over 80% of G20 countries have energy generation plans and strategies, fewer than 10% have dedicated electrification plans. So although electrification is central to the future energy landscape, national-level planning remains insufficient. We want governments attending COP to recognize electrification’s vital role in future energy systems, initiate national planning processes, and deliver the required investment and policy support.

Attention is also shifting toward the second Global Stocktake. While Europe and Canada have established electrification plans, the remaining 194 countries must follow suit. In many regions, electrification primarily means providing basic energy access. With millions of people still lacking electricity, a core pillar of the electrification agenda is extending access to rural and remote communities.

Ultimately, success depends on the actions and policies that are implemented after returning home.