Over the past three decades, international community has built an extensive climate architecture through the Paris Agreement and successive COP decisions. Commitments have been made. Targets have been set. Plans have been developed. However, current data from UNEP and the IPCC indicates that we are now facing the reality of "Beyond 1.5°C,". An overshoot of this threshold is imminent in the short term. Therefore, the challenge before us now is to translate this architecture into concrete results.

This urgent shift from promises to practice drives Türkiye’s vision as we prepare to host COP31 in Antalya [from November 9 to 20]. Together with Australia, our Presidency is firmly committed to delivering an effective "Implementation COP."

Our approach focuses on transforming high-level goals into investable, real-world actions through two distinct, but complementary pillars: formal intergovernmental negotiations and a robust COP31 Action Agenda.

The COP31 Action Agenda provides a practical platform for implementation. It aims to strengthen partnerships, advance scalable solutions and mobilize finance and investment in areas where collective action can make a concrete difference.

COP31 constitutes an agenda for multisectoral transformation. Climate policy is no longer solely the concern of environment ministries. It is also energy policy, industrial policy, agricultural policy, urban development policy, financial policy, education policy and development policy.

The Action Agenda is designed as a shared agenda for an Implementation COP. It aims to translate climate goals into measurable action. This systemic overlap is precisely why a logical sequence across all sectors is mandatory.

In this context, electrification is one of the key priorities of the COP31 Action Agenda, given its growing importance for climate action, energy security and the clean energy transition.

I would therefore like to briefly present the COP31 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge. The Pledge aims to raise electricity’s share of final energy consumption to 35% by 2035. This is not a new obligation. It is an open invitation for cooperation and collective action. It is respecting national circumstances and priorities.

To achieve this target, the Pledge encourages (i) accelerating electrification across sectors, (ii) strengthening resilient and reliable grids with storage and flexibility, (iii) mobilizing finance, especially for developing countries, and (iv) supporting knowledge sharing, capacity building and technology transfer.

The 35-by-35 target is supported by international analysis, including from the IEA and IRENA, which points to a significant increase in the share of electricity in final energy consumption in pathways consistent with the 1.5°C goal. Reaching 35% by 2035 will require accelerated investment and international cooperation, together with the infrastructure needed to support increasing electrification, particularly modern and resilient grids.

The 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge provides a common and measurable direction for international cooperation – from ambition to implementation. We believe the Pledge can provide a practical contribution to climate action and the clean energy transition. It is supporting efforts to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach.

We would greatly welcome your support for the endorsement of the Pledge and look forward to working together in the lead-up to and during COP31.

The second core component of our vision becomes the financial engine for the first: the Climate Implementation Bridge (BRIDGE), developed with UNDP. BRIDGE is the operational mechanism that enables the right sequencing required by the 35-by-35 target. It addresses one of the most persistent challenges in climate action: translating national climate and development priorities into investment-ready projects. BRIDGE will seek to build project pipelines and connect them with appropriate sources of capital and tailored financing solutions, while strengthening national capacity.

We attach particular importance to this. One of the greatest barriers to achieving climate goals is the failure to translate them into bankable projects.

The Climate Implementation Bridge aims to facilitate the translation of climate priorities set out in nationally determined contributions into bankable project portfolios and connect them with appropriate financing solutions. It is neither a new fund nor an alternative to existing financing mechanisms.

This is particularly important for developing countries. Global climate action cannot be accelerated without recognizing that countries do not share the same starting conditions.

Türkiye is looking forward to accelerate green development and climate action. It prepares to host the COP31. Türkiye could help bridge differences between developed and developing countries through its diplomatic ties and geopolitical position. We link our vision to broader efforts to strengthen energy security and help countries become more self-sufficient in meeting their energy needs.