The hosts of the upcoming COP31 climate summit have proposed a global target to increase the share of electricity in final energy consumption to 35% by 2035, up from the current 21%. This shift is essential because electricity is significantly more efficient than fossil fuel combustion. By replacing traditional engines and heating systems with electric alternatives, the total energy demand of the global system can be reduced. While current trends show progress, meeting this ambitious 2035 goal requires accelerating the pace of electrification across the transport, industrial, and building sectors to roughly triple current rates.
Electrification is fundamentally about efficiency, often referred to as “electrofficiency.” Electric motors and heat pumps convert a much higher percentage of input energy into useful work compared to combustion-based systems, which lose the majority of their energy as waste heat. Because of this, every percentage point of electrification reduces the total energy required by the global system. While the global share of electricity in final energy use has grown by about 0.3 percentage points annually since 2010, this aggregate figure masks significant variations across different sectors and nations.
Buildings have seen the most consistent progress, with electricity’s share of energy use rising from 11% in 1971 to 36% today. Industrial electrification has also grown, doubling to 30% over the same period, proving that many industrial processes are more adaptable to electricity than previously assumed. Transport remains the primary laggard at 1%, though this is shifting rapidly as battery electric vehicles become more affordable and sales grow. To reach the 35% target by 2035, countries must move beyond current policies, which the IEA projects will only reach 25% by that date.
National progress is not strictly tied to wealth. While Norway leads with high electrification rates due to long-standing hydro resources and policy, other nations like China and Indonesia are making rapid gains by building electrified infrastructure from the ground up. This approach allows developing economies to avoid locking in fossil fuel reliance. Ultimately, the transition depends on policy choices, such as reforming electricity pricing, adjusting network regulations, and incentivizing the use of clean electricity. Aligning economic development with climate goals remains the most critical factor in achieving the necessary scale of global electrification.