Prime Minister Keir Starmer has used his presence at COP29 to announce the goal of an 81% reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. The British government has been one of the first to update its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to set the bar higher than any other country to date.
The Labour Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to make the United Kingdom a "world climate leader" and a "clean energy superpower," with the push for the so-called Global Clean Power Alliance, an alliance to accelerate the transition to renewables in developing countries.
Starmer has made a significant shift in climate policy in his country, following the two-year backtrack by the conservative government of Rishi Sunak, which significantly lowered expectations, despite having maintained the target set by Boris Johnson of a 68% emissions cut by 2030.
"We will decarbonize the electricity sector with a massive expansion of wind energy both offshore and onshore, as well as investments in carbon capture and nuclear energy," Starmer anticipated, deciding to be present in Baku despite the absence of world leaders such as Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The EU has also announced its update of the NDCs with a collective goal for the 27 countries to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040, as a preliminary step to net zero by 2050. The United Arab Emirates has committed to a 47% reduction in emissions by 2035, while Brazil (host of COP30 focusing on the Amazon) has pledged to make efforts towards a 67% emissions cut in a decade.
"There can be no national security, economic security, or global security without climate security," Starmer warned at a press conference before his speech at the COP29 plenary. "The race of the future is in clean energies, and I want the UK to lead the way."
"We will achieve our goal of good jobs, cheaper electricity bills, and higher growth," added the Prime Minister. "And we will partner with countries to attract investors to our businesses and achieve climate leadership for the UK."
Starmer stated that the Labour government aims to achieve its goal without requiring significant changes in people's lives: "I will not interfere in people's lives or tell them how to behave."
The premier evaded the question of whether the UK intends to fill the void expected to be left by the United States with the election of a climate change-denying president like Donald Trump, who considers climate change a "hoax." "I think what we have ahead is not only an obligation but an opportunity," Starmer declared. "Look at where investors are putting their money: in renewable energies because they know it's a great opportunity."
Starmer's announcement was met with skepticism by environmental groups in the UK due to the strong emphasis on carbon capture projects, with a planned public investment of 26 billion euros over the next 25 years. "The emissions cut is welcomed," stated Dominica Eagleton, spokesperson for Global Witness. "But Starmer is going to give away millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to the oil industry for a technology that has had 30 years of failures."