Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

Thank you for convening this timely event.

Germany fully aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The transition away from fossil fuels towards electrification and renewable energy is the biggest lever for achieving climate neutrality. It also strengthens energy security, efficiency and competitiveness, while reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports.

Germany is translating our collective commitment into concrete national action. On 23 September, the German Government published its national roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Germany is legally committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2045. This requires a consistent transition across all sectors, through electrification and rapid expansion of renewable energy

Our Climate Action Program 2026 is expected to save almost seven billion cubic metres of natural gas and around four billion litres of petrol in 2030 alone.

We encourage all countries to make their own plans for an accelerated energy transition more concrete.

Germany supports Brazil's roadmap process. We want COP31 to deliver an ambitious outcome that takes this process forward and encourages more countries to develop national roadmaps.

Excellencies,

Germany welcomes the Turkish presidency's focus on electrification, including the proposed pledge to increase electricity's share of global final energy consumption to 35 percent by 2035.

COP31 should deliver an ambitious electrification package with concrete implementation steps, cooperation and financing for industry, transport and heating.

But there can be no electrification without expanding and stabilizing electricity grids.

As we expand our grids, we must also avoid locking in long-term emissions from sulfur hexafluoride. Germany is developing an international pledge to address sulfur hexafluoride emissions in the electricity sector, promoting alternatives and preventing emissions. Let me invite all of you to join this pledge.

For countries in the Global South, electrification based on renewables offers a major development opportunity: expanding energy access, reducing import dependence, attracting investment and building competitive industries.

No country should have to manage this transformation alone.

Germany stands ready to work with governments, energy providers, development partners, financial institutions and industry to make the transition a driver of energy security and prosperity.