Sir Keir Starmer is poised to set a tough new target to cut emissions which could impose even greater environmental burdens on Britons.
The UK is already committed to a 68 per cent reduction in emissions between 1990 and 2030, as part of its Nationally Determined Contribution towards the Paris Agreement.
This target is used by the Government to drive environmental policies, such as insulating homes, phasing out new petrol cars and increasing UK reliance on solar and wind energy. Earlier this year the Government’s Climate Change Committee advised Secretary of State for Energy, Ed Miliband that the target should be lifted to 81 per cent by 2035.
Speaking to reporters en route to the Cop29 climate change summit Starmer confirmed he will set out the new target for UK emissions on Tuesday.
Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment comes as he arrives at the Cop29 climate summit
PA
He said on Monday: “When it comes to emissions, we will set out our target tomorrow. Obviously Cop will then want to look at a future [climate finance] sum taking us through to 2035.”
Starmer wants to use the Cop29 summit in Baku to encourage private sector businesses to invest in green energy.
He told reporters: “I will be making an argument powerfully that now is the time for the private sector to start paying their fair share in relation to these commitments.
“It’s why tomorrow we’ll be launching an initiative to crowd in private sector contributions because I think it’s high time the private sector played their part in this.”
There will be no more UK taxpayer money committed to the £11.6billion already earmarked to be spent on international climate change finance up to 2025/26.
Sir Keir Starmer wants to use the Cop29 summit in Baku to encourage private sector businesses to invest in green energy
PA
He said: “The only commitment we’re making is to the £11.6billion through to 2025/26. Obviously, this Cop is not about bringing further individual contributions. It’s about what the overall sum will be.
“I will be making the argument that the private sector ought to be paying into that. So this is not about those future commitments. We won’t be sending out a sum for the UK at this Cop.”
The news came as Starmer announced plans to incentivise wind developers to invest in the UK’s historic industrial heartlands, coastal areas and oil and gas communities, boosting green jobs, and to support sustainable factories.
Ministers hope it will support in private investment in Scotland, Wales, the North East and North West, to build more sustainable offshore wind blades, cables and ports – reducing industrial emissions and helping support clean, secure, cheap power for families.
Offshore wind developers will be incentivised to invest in the UK’s historic industrial heartlands, coastal areas and oil and gas communities, boosting green jobs, and to support sustainable factories.
Separately ScottishPower has awarded a £1billion turbine contract for its East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm to Siemens Gamesa, including blade production at its Hull blade factory.
Starmer added: “Both in opposition and as Prime Minister, I have repeatedly emphasised the importance of global leadership when it comes to the climate challenge, and therefore it is very important for me to come to Cop.
“I have also made it clear that I see the climate challenge as a huge opportunity for the UK, if we get it right, and that is why we have made it one of our missions to have clean power by 2030, and if you look at the inward investment that we have triggered in the last four months, a huge amount of that is on renewables – that is where global investors want to put their investment.
“So I see climate change as an important obligation on which we’ve got to show leadership, but it’s also an incredible opportunity for the UK to get ahead on the world stage and I am determined we are going to do that.”
