Keir Starmer is set to unveil a rigorous new climate target for the UK on Tuesday, aligning with recommendations from scientific advisors. The UK aims to reduce emissions by 81% from 1990 levels by 2035, mirroring advice from the Climate Change Committee.
This ambitious target will be among the first nationally determined contributions (NDCs) revealed at COP29, the pivotal UN climate summit in Azerbaijan, and includes efforts like decarbonizing power and expanding offshore wind, alongside carbon capture and nuclear energy.
Although countries’ formal NDC submissions are due next February, this UK commitment stands out, especially against previously criticized NDCs like those from the UAE and Brazil, which were labeled insufficient by environmental advocates. Friends of the Earth emphasized the urgency of greater UK climate leadership, underscoring that the 2035 pledge must serve as a baseline, not a maximum goal.
The World Meteorological Organization also reported on Monday that 2024 may become the hottest recorded year, signaling urgent need for climate action.
Numerous global leaders are set to attend COP29 this week, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, though Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Olaf Scholz, and Emmanuel Macron will be absent.
The summit’s focus extends to climate finance, aiming to facilitate poorer countries’ access to necessary funding for emissions reduction and adaptation efforts. While developed countries committed to contributing $100 billion annually from public sources, experts suggest that $1 trillion per year will be required by 2035.
COP29 also marked progress on article 6 from the Paris Agreement, finally allowing carbon offset trading. This move, which ended a years-long stalemate, seeks to enable wealthier nations to fund affordable climate solutions abroad. However, environmental advocates continue to caution that without strict regulations, carbon markets could undermine the Paris Agreement’s integrity.
Azerbaijan hopes these advancements will pave the way for comprehensive talks on financing goals throughout the two-week summit.
