Sabancı Holding named COP31 electrification partner

Sabancı Holding will serve as the official Electrification Partner for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, where the company plans to push clean power, grid expansion and industrial electrification as core tools for the energy transition. CEO Kıvanç Zaimler says the shift is central to meeting rising electricity demand from AI and next-generation technologies while supporting net-zero goals.

Why it matters: - Sabancı Holding’s COP31 role puts electrification, clean power and grid buildout at the center of a major global climate forum. - The partnership aligns with the COP31 goal to lift electricity’s share of final global energy demand from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035. - The agenda matters for sectors that still rely heavily on fossil fuels, including transportation, industry and buildings. - The transition also intersects with rising power demand from electric vehicles, data centers, robotics and AI infrastructure.

What happened: - Sabancı Holding was named the official Electrification Partner of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP31. - COP31 is scheduled for Nov. 9–20, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye. - The partnership is designed to highlight electrification, clean power, energy security, industrial transformation and sustainable economic growth. - Kıvanç Zaimler, CEO of Sabancı Holding, framed electrification as a broader shift shaping global economics, industrial output and technology. - Sabancı Holding will co-chair the Electrification and Energy Transition Working Group as part of the COP31 Business Forum led by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, or TOBB.

The details: - The COP31 Presidency Action Agenda includes the “35by35” global objective to raise electricity’s share of final energy demand to 35% by 2035. - Meeting that target requires clean power supply, stronger grids and faster electrification of demand to move in parallel. - Zaimler said the energy transition must address security, affordability and sustainability at the same time. - Zaimler said Türkiye has strong solar and wind resources, advanced grid infrastructure, a dynamic private sector and a skilled workforce that could support its role as a green energy hub. - Sabancı Holding said its businesses span energy, mobility, industry, finance, technology and research. - Enerjisa Üretim and Enerjisa Enerji anchor Sabancı Holding’s energy portfolio through renewable generation, distribution and retail operations. - Eşarj is expanding EV charging infrastructure, while Temsa is advancing electric mobility solutions. - Çimsa, Brisa and Kordsa support decarbonization efforts in energy-intensive industries. - Akbank is providing financing and sustainable finance tools for renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric mobility and other transition technologies. - Aksigorta is supporting renewable energy assets, EVs, charging infrastructure and other emerging technologies with insurance solutions. - SabancıDx and Sabancı Climate Technologies are focused on digital transformation and climate technologies. - Sabancı University and the Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate, or IICEC, are contributing research and policy development. - Sabancı Holding describes itself as Türkiye’s leading investment holding company and says it has the country’s largest energy portfolio across the clean electrification value chain. - The company’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - The COP31 appointment gives Sabancı Holding a platform to position itself as a national and regional player in the shift from fossil-fuel dependence to electrified energy systems. - The emphasis on AI, robotics and data centers signals that electrification is now being tied to digital infrastructure growth, not just climate policy. - Türkiye’s bid to serve as an energy corridor suggests a broader competitive play to link industrial policy, grid investment and cross-border clean power flows.

What's next: - Sabancı Holding will use the COP31 Business Forum to promote public-private dialogue and implementation models for electrification and energy transition. - The company is likely to showcase its integrated portfolio as a practical example of how finance, industry, mobility and energy assets can support the transition. - COP31 in Antalya will test whether the “35by35” goal can translate from policy language into investment and infrastructure commitments.