Global Energy Transition & Electrification Summit
We Mean Business Coalition, E3G and Global Renewables Alliance (GRA)
At the Global Energy Transition and Electrification Summit (GETES) at Mansion House, co-hosted by UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, E3G, the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) and the We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), international leaders rallied together to chart a new pathway through a perilous moment: the greatest energy security crisis of our times, and the imperative to build a pathway to long-term energy resilience, economic prosperity and a safe climate.
Responding to UN Secretary General António Guterres’ major energy transition speech on the same day, leaders set out a series of actions and commitments for strengthened clean energy cooperation and implementation.
A group of government and industry leaders launched ‘Electrify Now’ – a major multi-year global platform to accelerate the clean electrification of the global economy, strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuels, cut emissions, and support jobs, investment and resilient supply chains.
Jointly launched by the EC, UK, Türkiye (COP31 hosts), Australia (COP31 Negotiations President), Ethiopia (COP32 hosts), South Korea, IRENA, the IEA business groups, think tanks, and civil society organisations, the platform will mobilise wider political leadership, business action and international partnerships to accelerate electrification across key sectors of the economy. The initiative reflects IRENA’s latest analysis highlighting electrification and grid enhancement as key drivers of a secure, affordable and resilient energy transition.
In a signal of the political imperative to move away from reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to supply shocks, and for continued global cooperation and momentum on the transition, Colombia and the Netherlands formally handed over the outcomes of the Santa Marta Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels to the Brazilian COP30 Presidency for input into their global roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels.
New polling of business leaders presented at the Summit showed overwhelming global support for clean electrification amid fossil fuel volatility, with 90% of executives surveyed expecting to be largely electrified by 2035. The message from business leaders is clear: electrification is becoming a strategic imperative, but faster grid investment, stable policies, and stronger incentives are needed to unlock its full potential.
This message was reinforced by businesses present at the Summit, highlighting a statement in support of electrification signed by over 100 companies, representing businesses across sectors and industries and with combined annual revenue of US$1.5 trillion.
At a critical handover point between the COP30 and COP31 Presidencies, over the Summit and the wider day, leaders reinforced momentum behind the delivery and implementation of the energy transition through a series of new initiatives and announcements summarised below.
Commenting on the day, leaders said:
Bruce Douglas, CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, said: “When fossil fuel prices spike, consumers and economies suffer. When renewables and electrification accelerate, countries become more resilient. As the latest geopolitical tensions once again expose the risks of fossil fuel dependence, governments and businesses are sending a clear signal: the future of secure, low cost energy is renewable electrification. Electrify Now is about turning that consensus into action and accelerating the pace of change.”
Nick Mabey, CEO of E3G and Chair of London Climate Action Week, said: “Volatile geopolitics and repeated fossil fuel crises are again bringing energy security concerns to the top table. Leaders are seeing the solution in clean energy security, electrification and moving to end fossil fuel dependence as a core economic resilience strategy.
London Climate Action Week has once again proven to be a critical global moment for building strong cooperation on the climate and energy transition. As the world grapples with yet another fossil fuel crisis, we must find more spaces to bring stakeholders together to co-create and implement collective solutions. London, as a global centre of geopolitics, commerce, finance and climate, is a crucial venue to respond to this challenge.”
Maria Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business Coalition said: “Real progress happens when governments and business move in the same direction. Around the world, we are seeing a growing alignment that electrification can strengthen energy security, competitiveness and resilience. That shared understanding creates a powerful opportunity to accelerate investment and build the modern electricity systems our economies need.”
Murat Kurum, COP31 President Designate and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye said: “This year at COP31 we have a unique opportunity to make progress on a critical piece of the energy transition puzzle – electrification. Momentum for a ‘35-by-35’ target at COP31 is already building as progress in the real economy demonstrates that the mission is possible. Our task as political leaders is now to guide and accelerate progress even further. In Antalya this November we will bring even more actors together to spark a truly global conversation on electrification and take the next steps.”
Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing said: “Now it is clearer than ever: clean electrification is one of the most powerful tools we have to build a sustainable future. We can cut emissions while strengthening our energy security and creating economic opportunities. By powering our homes, industries, and transport systems with clean electricity, we can make our economies and societies more resilient and avoid future shocks driven by volatile fossil fuels.”
Key outcomes from the day included:
- Major energy speech from UN Secretary General António Guterres focusing on the need to accelerate the global energy transition in response to the Straits of Hormuz energy crisis, the climate crisis and wider geopolitical instability.
- Launch of the ‘Electrify Now’ global platform to accelerate the clean electrification of the global economy.
- Formal handover of the Santa Marta Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels Co-Chairs Report to the COP30 Brazilian Presidency.
- Announcement of an upcoming global energy demand flexibility initiative led by UNEP and IRENA.
- Launch of new Powering Past Coal Alliance briefing: Electrification: why clean power delivers where coal cannot.
- BOGA and NDC Partnership announced a second NDC Window and new country programmes supporting Kazakhstan, Chad and Trinidad and Tobago.
- Business statement signed by over 100 companies representing US$1.5 trillion in annual revenue calling for electrification as a central pillar of economic strategy.
- Presentation of global business survey on electrification from E3G, GRA and WMBC.
- Launch of Country Action Plans for Tanzania, Mozambique and Brazil under the Global Clean Power Alliance Finance Mission.
- Launch of the Green Grids Initiative report Responding to Energy Price Shocks Through Grid Optimisation.
- Launch of a joint statement between the UK, Canada and European Commission on methane abatement in the energy sector.
- Launch of Follow the Deal, a renewable energy project finance navigator developed with the Global Clean Power Alliance.
- Launch of two new consumer platforms in Indonesia and Pakistan under Consumers International’s One-Stop-Shop programme.