19 Oct 2026
A word from Shay Singh, Head of Policy
High voltage, high stakes
Nikola Tesla once said, “All around us everything is spinning, everything is moving, everywhere is energy”. For those of us focused on the lead up to COP 31, it certainly feels like energy, or electrification to be specific, is everywhere. With a series of announcements and launches over the past couple of months, its clear electrification is firmly on the global agenda.
In the June UN Climate Meetings, the 35 by 35 target was announced as part of the COP31 Presidency’s Action Agenda. The aim is to raise the share of global final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035.
Later that month, during London Climate Week, Electrify Now, was launched. Electrify Now is a global movement of businesses, think tanks, civil society and governments joining together to accelerate clean electrification and back the 35 by 35 target.
In September, a coalition of Australian organisations, including GBCA, responded with the Electrify Australia campaign. From farm gates to factory floors, freight routes to front doors - the campaign highlights a set of policy asks to accelerate the electrification of households, commercial buildings and the industry, agriculture, resources, transport, and energy sectors.
The following week, the COP31 Presidency followed up its Action Agenda with the COP31 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge. Heads of State and Governments participating in COP31 will be invited to pledge their intent to:
“…work collaboratively and expeditiously to pursue the following objective:
To increase electricity’s share of total final energy consumption, to reach 35% globally by 2035 consistent with pathways consistent with keeping 1.5°C alive and complementary to efforts to expand renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.”
Türkiye and Australia commissioned the International Energy Agency to develop a landmark report which announces the world is entering a new Age of Electricity. It provides a clear picture of how far and how fast electrification can advance across sectors and regions, and what it means for energy security, affordability and emissions. GBCA has been driving the electrification of the built environment - and highlighting the legion of benefits - for many years, from the Green Star rating tools and the Climate Positive Pathway to advocating for policy change at federal, state, territory and local level. While we’ve seen steps, and occasional leaps in progress (check out EEC’s policy scorecard for some of these), it seems like globally the current is getting stronger. COP31 and the ‘Electrify’ campaigns might be the surge in momentum we need to drive further policy change.
Earlier this month, pre-COP meetings were held in Fiji, with the experiences and stories of Pacific Islanders at the heart of the discussions. People living in the Pacific Islands face some of the most extreme realities of climate change. Witnessing these lived experiences reinforced both the urgency of climate action and the role that moving away from fossil fuels and towards electrification can play in reducing emissions while delivering broader benefits. The 1.5C goal is in jeopardy, but if the aim of the pre-COP meetings was to keep the goal alive in the hearts and minds of leaders going into COP31 in Antalya, I think our Pacific neighbours have delivered.
On that note, I will be heading to Antalya to represent GBCA and the sustainable built environment sector at COP31 and I’m looking forward to reporting back. Meanwhile, we’ll be keeping our eyes on the policy environment here at home. With the Victorian election rapidly approaching, the Labor-led government has reaffirmed their commitment to their electrification policies, but the Victorian Coalition has vowed to wind them back if they are successful in the polls. At the federal level, the Coalition recently launched its energy policy with a promise to immediately repeal net zero commitments should they win back government in 2028.
We know the benefits that electrificationn brings, especially during an oil and gas crisis: healthier homes and lower bills for Australians; greater appeal to tenants in commercial real-estate; energy-security through locally-generated renewable energy; and savings for farmers through reduced fuel consumption. The path to 35 by 35 will be decided by every home, business and industry across the world. But perhaps even more important, are the benefits a stable suite of climate policies can deliver for Australia. Right now, the world is humming with energy, but policy will determine where it flows.
Electrify Australia
In September, industry leaders, community advocates and politicians from all sides of politics helped launch the Electrify Australia campaign at Parliament House. The campaign calls for regulation, policy changes and support from government to help households and businesses electrify.
A call for clean air
GBCA has joined the call for a National Healthy Air Strategy for Australia. Poor air quality is the leading environmental cause of preventable illness and premature death in Australia, yet Australia lacks a coordinated national framework to ensure clean, healthy air. A growing list of supporters are calling for government investment to establish a taskforce and a national strategy.
More comfortable homes, more affordable power bills
Almost 60% of Victorian homes have little or no ceiling insulation. From 1 October, Victorian households can access discounts for installing ceiling insulation via the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
Responding to reform
GBCA regularly contributes to federal, state and local government and industry consultations and it has been a busy time for submissions. Recently we have provided input on the proposed closure of the Climate Active program, the Safeguard Mechanism review, the future of AI infrastructure in Australia, housing supply regulations, future gas appliance regulations in the ACT and more.
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Local
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