Energy boss Birol urges governments to accelerate global electrification at COP31

The world should increase electricity's share of final energy consumption to 35% by 2035, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol has told Euronews in an exclusive interview, as he urged governments to reduce their reliance fossil ahead of COP31.Speaking on On the Record with Maria Tadeo, Birol urged leaders at the climate summit in Turkey this week to accelerate electrification to strengthen energy sovereignty, particularly in the EU, which remains exposed to global energy market volatility despite efforts to diversify away from Russian supplies.The European Commission estimates that disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz have added €127 billion to the EU's energy import bill since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, while industrial production across the bloc continues to fall.Birol also warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could have serious consequences for Europe and the global economy, urging governments to prepare for a difficult winter."If the Strait of Hormuz is closed for a very long time, it would have major implications for the global economy and that of Europe," he said.Birol also played down hopes that a possible US decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports would provide significant relief to European markets.Europe has lost supplies of refined products, including diesel and jet fuel, from the Middle East, while Ukrainian attacks on…