COP31 seeks global target to cut buildings’ energy intensity by 20%

The COP31 Presidency is proposing a global target to reduce the energy intensity of buildings by at least 20% by 2035 compared with 2025 levels.

The proposal was announced by Tuğba Dinçbaş, Deputy Director of the Climate Change Directorate at Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, during Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), Caliber.Az reports.

Speaking at an event titled “Targets to Implementation: Accelerating Climate-Positive Buildings through Global Cooperation”, Dinçbaş said buildings were at the centre of efforts to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

“Buildings are indeed at the heart of this agenda. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is one of the most immediate and practical opportunities to reduce energy demand and emissions while also enhancing resilience, affordability and quality of life,” she said.

Dinçbaş said the COP31 Presidency was placing energy-efficient buildings at the centre of its work on the buildings sector and sought to establish clear and measurable targets for the transition.

“With regard to buildings, the COP31 Presidency proposes setting a global target of reducing buildings’ energy intensity by at least 20% by 2035 compared with the 2025 baseline,” she said.

The COP31 Presidency is also promoting the “35 by 2035” electrification target under the Global Action Agenda. The initiative aims to increase the share of electricity in total final energy consumption to 35% by 2035.

Dinçbaş said the two targets were closely interconnected, as greater energy efficiency would reduce the amount of energy required by buildings, while electrification would allow more end uses, including heating and cooling, to shift towards electricity.

“Together, energy efficiency and electrification can become mutually reinforcing drivers of transformation across the global building stock,” she said.

COP31 is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.

By Kheyraddin Nasirzade