Around 2,500 gigawatts of power projects are waiting for a connection to the electricity grid. That figure, shared at COP31 in Antalya, captures a central challenge of the energy transition: clean power is of little use if the wires cannot carry it to people and businesses.
On Energy and Transport Day, country representatives focused on how to turn a global promise to move away from coal, oil and gas into practical plans. Three years after that commitment was made at COP28 in Dubai, Brazil presented a voluntary roadmap to help countries work out their next steps. The effort comes as governments face the effects of fossil fuel dependence as well as the task of building alternatives.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said dependence on fossil fuels is an increasingly costly risk, not only a climate problem. Since the current escalation in the Middle East began, the European Union has paid more than €100 billion in additional fossil fuel import costs, he said. Petrol and diesel prices have also surged in more than 130 countries. Changing suppliers, he warned, cannot shield countries from disruption because price increases in one place can spread widely.
Brazil’s roadmap was first released on 3 November and formally presented at COP31. Ana Toni, CEO of Brazil’s COP30 Presidency, said it looks at three linked issues: demand for fossil fuels, their production and supply, and the economic effects of moving away from them. It offers indicators for countries to assess their readiness, spot barriers and plan what to do next. The aim is not to impose one route on every country: oil and gas producers must prepare for changes to revenue, jobs and industries, while fuel importers need alternatives that reduce their exposure to unstable markets.
The roadmap is voluntary and does not create a new binding climate agreement. Guterres urged countries to make national plans with clear timelines and financing needs, and to show measurable progress by 2028. Toni’s message was direct: “Start now from wherever you are. Start now. Don’t wait.”
Türkiye, the COP31 host, also promoted its 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge. It aims to raise electricity’s share of global energy use from just over 20 per cent today to 35 per cent by 2035. That could mean more electric buses, homes heated without gas and factories powered by electricity. For electrification to deliver its full climate benefits, however, the electricity supply must increasingly come from clean sources.
The grid is another major piece of the puzzle. Dario Liguti of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe said about 2,500 gigawatts of power generation and other energy projects worldwide are waiting for grid connections. Some cannot connect; others have to cut production because networks cannot carry all the electricity available. Liguti called for both more grid capacity and better networks.
The proposals point to a transition that depends on more than setting targets. Countries will need plans suited to their economies, investment and international cooperation, as well as upgraded grids able to deliver clean power. The roadmap’s next test is whether governments turn its voluntary guidance into national steps—and show progress by 2028.