IRENA Calls for Electrification and Grid Investment for COP31

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Director-General Francesco La Camera called for prioritizing electrification and increasing investments in electricity grids and infrastructure at COP31 to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. La Camera drew attention to Turkey's renewable energy potential and the importance of developing its grid infrastructure.

Stating that electrification must be accelerated and industry and the economy must be decarbonized to achieve the Paris Agreement targets, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera expressed that COP31 can contribute to these areas. In an assessment made to the AA correspondent, La Camera conveyed their satisfaction with the cooperation between IRENA and the COP31 Turkey Presidency.

Stating that he finds it important to prioritize Turkey's electrification initiative on the COP31 agenda, La Camera noted that electricity grids, energy storage, and infrastructure investments are among the fundamental components of the energy transition. In line with the target of increasing the electrification rate in the energy system to 35 percent by 2035, it was emphasized that the infrastructure must also be developed.

Touching upon Turkey's solar, wind, and geothermal energy potential, La Camera stated that renewable sources met 43 percent of electricity generation in the country in 2025. Expressing that grids can remain insufficient to handle new capacity, La Camera noted that Turkey is in a position of a bridge between Central Asia and Europe, and that the development of grid infrastructure is of great importance.