{"id":19978,"date":"2026-06-26T14:33:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimabozza.it\/natural-gas-and-electrification-the-dual-challenge-set-by-guterres-ahead-of-cop31\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:36:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:36:00","slug":"natural-gas-and-electrification-the-dual-challenge-set-by-guterres-ahead-of-cop31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimabozza.it\/en\/natural-gas-and-electrification-the-dual-challenge-set-by-guterres-ahead-of-cop31\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural Gas and Electrification: The Dual Challenge Set by Guterres Ahead of COP31"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

London hosted a discussion this week that could influence the path toward COP31. Two priorities of the energy transition took center stage during London Climate Action Week<\/a>: accelerating the electrification of consumer use<\/strong> and reducing methane emissions<\/strong>, starting with the fossil fuel sector. <\/p>\n\n

The two issues were addressed as part of the same strategy. On the one hand, increasing the use of electricity in transportation, buildings, and industry to reduce demand for oil, gas, and coal<\/strong>. On the other hand, taking action on methane, a greenhouse gas responsible for about one-third of global warming and on which, according to the United Nations, results can be achieved relatively quickly. <\/p>\n\n

Electrification Takes Center Stage at COP31<\/h3>\n\n

Electrification is no longer an issue confined to energy sector experts. Turkey and Australia, co-hosts of COP31<\/a>, want to make it one of the pillars of the upcoming climate summit, setting a goal of having electricity meet 35% of global final energy demand by 2035<\/strong>, up from the current level of about 20%. To support this effort, the European Union and the United Kingdom have launched an international platform aimed at coordinating policies, sharing best practices, and fostering new investments. <\/p>\n\n

The challenge, however, is not limited to the growth of renewable energy sources. We need more modern power grids, energy storage systems, adequate infrastructure, and tools to make technologies such as electric vehicles and heat pumps more accessible. As IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera<\/strong> noted, \u201cOver the past decade, renewable energy has transformed the way electricity is generated; the next decade must transform the way energy is consumed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

The Natural Gas Issue<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Alongside electrification, the United Nations has brought the issue of methane back to the forefront of the debate. Speaking at London Climate Action Week, UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/strong> noted that this greenhouse gas traps much more heat than CO\u2082 in the first few years after release and that reducing its emissions is one of the most effective ways to limit global warming in the short term.\u201cDrastic cuts could lead to a noticeable drop in temperatures within a generation<\/strong>,\u201d he said, pointing to the fossil fuel sector as the area where the most immediate benefits can be achieved. <\/p>\n\n

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