Sabancı Holding Leads Clean Electrification Agenda as COP31 Electrification Partner

CEO Kıvanç Zaimler highlights electrification as central to industrial growth, meeting AI-driven power demand and achieving net-zero goals at COP31

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sabancı Holding, one of Türkiye’s leading financial and industrial conglomerates, has been named the official Electrification Partner of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9–20, 2026.

Through this strategic partnership, Sabancı Holding will champion the critical role of electrification and clean power in advancing the global energy transition, while highlighting the importance of energy security, industrial transformation, and sustainable economic growth.

Entering a New Energy Era Focused on Electricity:
Under the COP31 Presidency Action Agenda, the global target aims to increase electricity’s share of final global energy demand from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035. The “35by35” global objective seeks to accelerate the transition toward cleaner energy systems by scaling renewable power and electrification across sectors heavily reliant on fossil fuels, including transportation, industry, and buildings. Achieving this ambition will require clean power supply, stronger grids and faster electrification of demand to advance together.

“We are entering a new era in global energy where electricity plays a far broader role than simply lighting homes or running machinery,” said Kıvanç Zaimler, CEO of Sabancı Holding. “Electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, data centers, robotics, and next-generation technologies all run on electricity. Electrification is no longer strictly an energy or climate topic—it is a comprehensive transformation shaping the future of global economics, industrial output, and technology.”

Positioning Türkiye as a Green Energy Corridor:
Zaimler emphasized that the energy transition must address the long-standing trilemma of security, affordability and sustainability simultaneously.
“While energy security historically centered around oil and gas pipelines, the future belongs to green energy corridors that move clean electricity across borders,” Zaimler added. “Türkiye possesses immense potential with rich solar and wind resources, advanced energy grid infrastructure, a dynamic private sector, and a skilled workforce to serve as a hub in this global journey.”

Leading the Electrification & Energy Transition Working Group:
As part of the COP31 Business Forum led by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), Sabancı Holding will co-chair the Electrification and Energy Transition Working Group, fostering public-private dialogue and highlighting practical and scalable implementation models with international stakeholders.

Sabancı Holding’s Integrated Contribution to the Energy Transition:
Sabancı Holding’s businesses contribute to the energy transition across energy, mobility, industry, finance, technology, and research:
• Energy Generation & Distribution: Sabancı Holding has Türkiye’s largest energy portfolio, encompassing Enerjisa Üretim’s renewable power generation and Enerjisa Enerji’s electricity distribution and retail operations.
• E-Mobility & Fleet Decarbonization: Expanding EV charging infrastructure through Eşarj and advancing electric mobility solutions through Temsa.
• Industrial Transformation: Supporting the decarbonization and transformation of energy-intensive industries through Çimsa, Brisa, and Kordsa.
• Banking & Green Financing: Accelerating the transition through Akbank’s financing solutions and sustainable finance capabilities, supporting investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric mobility, and other transition technologies.
• Insurance & Risk Mitigation: Supporting the transition through Aksigorta’s insurance solutions for renewable energy assets, EVs, charging infrastructure, and other emerging technologies.
• Digital & Climate Technologies: Advancing digital transformation and scaling climate technologies through SabancıDx and Sabancı Climate Technologies.
• Research & Policy Development: Building energy-sector knowledge and supporting research and policy dialogue through Sabancı University and the Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC).

About Sabancı Holding
Sabancı Holding, Türkiye’s leading investment holding company, operates across diverse sectors including banking and financial services, energy and climate technologies, material technologies, digital technologies, and other strategic sectors. Sabancı Holding has Türkiye’s largest energy portfolio, spanning the full clean electrification value chain. The company is dedicated to driving sustainable growth and innovation across its portfolio. For more information, please visit: https://www.sabanci.com/en

Ms. Yeliz Kazan, Corporate Communications Manager
Sabancı Holding
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