Countries Back Global Rooftop Solar Push at COP31

Five nations have endorsed a new declaration aiming to significantly expand household solar panel adoption worldwide. Launched at the COP31 climate talks in Turkey, this initiative seeks to double rooftop installations to 300 million by 2030.

Proponents highlight rooftop solar as a vital solution for affordable energy, shielding consumers from future price volatility. This push arrives amid escalating climate disasters and geopolitical energy shocks bolstering interest in renewable sources.

Critics caution that such voluntary declarations often falter without robust, binding national policy frameworks to support them. Experts stress the urgent need for grid upgrades, alongside subsidies for solar panels and battery storage, to ensure efficacy.

Australia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria, and Vanuatu officially backed the declaration, joined by lawmakers from 21 other countries. Turkey simultaneously champions an ambitious target for renewables to constitute 35% of global energy consumption by 2035.

Despite significant renewable growth, nations like Turkey and Australia still heavily rely on fossil fuels for their energy grids. Addressing insufficient transmission and storage capacity remains crucial for fully integrating decentralized solar into national power systems.