It’s here again. UN Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell opened COP31 with the clear statement that “the world is getting dangerously hot”.

It’s a clear message that climate change cannot be ignored as real world effects sweep the globe. Danger coms in all forms, but at the heart there is the threat to health, and noting that the climate crisis is now a global health crisis of “pandemic proportions”, Stiell outlined that this year’s COP would focus on driving forward practical solutions.

On that practical side, he emphasised that “nations face a choice: electric or shock”. That electrification was really he only game in town. Electrification will allow a multiplier effect of value and resilience.

In coming days we should see how finance and support for global electrification can be achieved, and after all the arguing, even if some of the measures are adopted, the world should still be in a better place.

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