Africa: COP31 - Energy Transition Takes Centre Stage As Countries Map Path Beyond Fossil Fuels

What the report says

At COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, energy transition dominated the second day of talks as governments and UN officials focused on how to move away from fossil fuels while scaling up cleaner electricity systems. According to UN News, the discussions centered on three linked problems: reducing reliance on coal, oil and gas; building the grids and infrastructure needed for renewables; and finding financing that allows countries to act.

A key development was the formal presentation of Brazil’s voluntary roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels, first released earlier in November. UN Secretary-General António Guterres backed the effort while warning that continued dependence on fossil fuels carries rising economic costs as well as climate risks. Brazil’s COP presidency described the roadmap as a guide for national planning rather than a binding agreement, with tools to help countries assess readiness and identify barriers.

Other initiatives highlighted at the conference included Türkiye’s 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, which aims to raise electricity’s share of global energy use to 35 percent by 2035. Experts cited by UN News also pointed to a major grid bottleneck: thousands of gigawatts of clean energy projects are waiting for connection worldwide, limiting the pace at which solar and wind power can be used.

The reporting said financing remains especially difficult for developing countries, where higher borrowing costs can slow clean energy investment. That issue is particularly relevant in sub-Saharan Africa, where many people still lack electricity. The broader message from COP31 was that the energy transition is no longer only about technology, but also about grids, capital and resilience to climate impacts.