International organisation the International Energy Agency (IEA) hosted the second in a series of High-Level Energy Transition Dialogues on June 23, ahead of the COP31 summit to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.

Government, civil society and private business participants from 20 countries discussed ways to improve energy security, affordability and sustainability, including by accelerating electrification, cutting waste and expanding clean cooking access.

The discussions focused on where decision-makers should direct their attention in the near term to deliver strong gains in energy security, affordability and emissions reductions, especially as they respond to the energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East.

Participants also spoke about the importance of zero-waste approaches and methane abatement for addressing emissions and supporting energy system resilience, including the potential benefits of halving the growth of global waste, the IEA said.

They also shared views on how to meet 35% of final energy consumption with electricity by 2035, which was one of the goals set out by the COP31 presidency earlier in June.

Achieving this is a key milestone identified by the IEA in a 2024 report on pathways for implementing the outcomes of COP28, which was held in Dubai.

The participants also discussed how governments, industry and the financial sector can work together to expand access to electricity and clean cooking by tackling key barriers such as the cost of capital and infrastructure investment.

“Amid the current energy crisis, governments around the world are rethinking their energy strategies,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.

“As the strategic partner to the COP31 presidency working closely with Türkiye and Australia, the IEA is supporting the presidency’s Action Agenda, including with new analysis. We hope that our upcoming special reports on electrification and waste will further support dialogues among countries ahead of the Antalya summit,” he added.

“Armed with insights from the IEA, we have set electrification and waste targets to focus global efforts at COP31. But analysing the data is only the first step. Now we need to deliver the political will to follow the numbers to their logical conclusions,” said COP31 president-designate and Türkiye Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum.

“London Climate Action Week is therefore an essential milestone on the road to COP31 in Antalya. We are building momentum and agreement on the practical steps we need to reduce waste and electrify transport, buildings and industry.

“This is essential to halving the growth in global waste, electrifying 35% of energy consumption and delivering a successful COP31,” he said.

“We have had oil crises before, but now we have more ways to respond. Our long-term policy responses are not limited to finding more fuel,” said Australia Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

“Real, lasting progress can be achieved with measures to use our energy more efficiently and expand renewable-energy generation to diversify supply.

“Further, a clear priority for COP31 has emerged to electrify the global economy, backed by modern grids and energy storage, whether it be by electrifying industry in an industrial powerhouse like Germany, providing clean, electrical stoves in African communities or enabling solar to replace diesel in the Pacific,” he said.