Published12. November 2024, 3:50 p.m.
Baku: At the COP, the United Kingdom aims to be a driving force in climate diplomacy
The country is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035 compared to 1990.
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British Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented ambitious targets at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
IMAGO/Avalon.red
Represented in force at COP29 in Baku, the United Kingdom aspires to be at the forefront of climate diplomacy and unveiled on Tuesday ambitious objectives for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, cautiously welcomed by the NGOs.
Even before speaking in front of the other heads of state and government, British Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that his country was committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by “at least 81%”. by 2035 compared to 1990.
He also called on other countries to “present ambitious objectives”.
“A global problem also requires global partnership and responsible international cooperation,” insisted Keir Starmer, one of the rare G20 leaders to have traveled to Azerbaijan, at a press conference.
Coming to power in July, the new Labor government promised to put the climate “at the center” of its diplomacy, after numerous criticisms of the lack of involvement at the global level by the previous conservative government.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak only made a quick trip to the previous COP in Dubai.
Despite their ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the conservatives had also relaunched hydrocarbon exploration in the country and postponed the ban on the sale of new gasoline or diesel vehicles.
“Length ahead”
At a time when some are worried about a new withdrawal by the United States from the 2015 Paris agreement – which aims to keep global warming below 2°C – with the return of Donald Trump to the White House , London intends to strengthen its place on the international scene.
“I don’t intend to tell others how to behave”, but “everyone knows there is an energy transition”, declared Keir Starmer, adding that he wanted to “continue to show the leadership of the United Kingdom” in this matter.
“The race is on for the jobs of the future in clean energy (…) I don’t want to be in the pack, I want to get a head start,” he insisted.
“It is important that the country once again becomes a world leader in terms of climate,” Downing Street had already argued ahead of the COP.
Several British ministers are in Baku, including Energy Minister Ed Miliband, who will personally lead the negotiations throughout the summit.
Since July, the new government has already announced the end of the freeze on the development of onshore wind power, the launch of new offshore wind and solar projects and the commitment to no longer issue new land exploration licenses. hydrocarbons in the North Sea.
He must also launch a new public company with 8.3 billion pounds (9.9 billion euros) to finance his commitment to have completely carbon-free electricity by 2030.
“Relatively ambitious”
The new British target is the central axis of the new “nationally determined contribution” (NDC) that the United Kingdom, like all other signatory countries to the 2015 Paris climate agreement, must submit at the UN by next February.
It is in line with the recommendation made last month by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), responsible for advising the government, which welcomed the announcement by calling for “urgent action to accelerate the deployment of low carbon solutions”.
“An objective only has meaning to the extent that it is achieved,” warned its interim president Piers Forster, recalling that the country must already “get back on track” to reduce its emissions by 68% by 2030, as provided for in its previous NDC contribution.
The NGO Greenpeace also welcomed on Tuesday a “relatively ambitious” objective and Keir Starmer’s decision “to move forward” after the reversals of the previous conservative government. “But the goals must be supported by bold actions,” she warned.
The Climate Group also recognized a “strong signal (…) in a COP which sorely lacks global leadership”, while calling on London to define a “clear implementation plan”.
The United Kingdom closed its last coal-fired power station in September, a first for a G7 member.
(afp)
