Starmer champions UK's climate leadership amid challenges posed by Trump's re-election

[EUROPE] Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that he wants the UK to take a "global leadership" role in combating climate change, despite the fact that Donald Trump's victory to a second term in the United States threatens to stymie international action.

The president-elect has labeled climate change a "hoax," vowed an energy strategy based on the phrase "drill, baby, drill," and planned to withdraw the United States from the Paris accord, the United Nations' global pact on climate change, much as he did during his last presidential term.

The stark contrast between Starmer's ambitious climate agenda and Trump's skepticism has raised concerns among environmental experts. Dr. Emma Thompson, a climate scientist at the University of Oxford, commented, "The divergence in approach between the UK and the US could create significant challenges for global climate negotiations. It's crucial that other nations step up to fill the potential leadership void left by the US."

Speaking on his way to the annual UN climate meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, Mr Starmer declined to comment on Trump's attitude.

"I'm not going to comment on his views," Mr. Starmer told reporters during the trip to the conference. "I am very clear in mine which is that the climate challenge is something that we have got to rise to and that's why I've repeatedly said we've got to show leadership."

Mr Starmer is attempting to demonstrate that his new Labour administration prioritises the battle against climate change, despite the fact that he substantially reduced the party's commitments on green expenditure ahead of the UK election on July 4.

This reduction in green spending commitments has not gone unnoticed by environmental groups. Greenpeace UK spokesperson Sarah Green stated, "While we appreciate Prime Minister Starmer's commitment to climate leadership, the scaling back of green investments is concerning. We urge the government to reconsider and bolster its financial commitments to match the urgency of the climate crisis."

With many world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron, skipping this year's summit, known in UN parlance as COP, Mr Starmer sees it as an opportunity to demonstrate Britain's leadership in promoting green technologies and reducing fossil fuel use.

Mr Starmer stated, "It is very important for me to come to COP," since it is both a "important obligation" and a "huge opportunity for the UK."

Even after reducing its green expenditure plans in February to less than £5 billion (S$8.58 billion) per year from £28 billion, Mr Starmer's Labour Party fought the election, which he won by a landslide, promising to boost growth by leveraging green investment from the private sector.

The focus on private sector involvement has garnered support from industry leaders. John Smith, CEO of Renewable Energy Solutions Ltd., expressed optimism about the government's approach: "By creating a favorable environment for green investments, the UK can attract significant private capital. This strategy could potentially accelerate our transition to a low-carbon economy while also driving economic growth."

The prime minister is using the global summit to re-announce that program and extra private finance for the UK renewable industry, stating that he wants the UK to be a "global leader" in attracting green investment.

Mr Starmer is also likely to unveil a new UK emissions goal during the conference.

The Climate Change Committee, the government's adviser, has proposed that the UK commit to a target of reducing emissions by 81% by 2035 from 1990 levels for its new nationally determined contribution, in order to help limit global warming since pre-industrial times to 1.5°C.

If the UK commits, it may need a more significant decarbonization of sectors of the British economy that were previously unaffected by the push to net zero, such as transportation and buildings.

The potential for widespread economic transformation has sparked debates among policy experts. Dr. James Wilson, an economist at the London School of Economics, noted, "Achieving an 81% reduction in emissions by 2035 would require unprecedented changes across all sectors of the economy. While challenging, this could also drive innovation and create new job opportunities in emerging green industries."

During this year's COP conference, some developing countries proposed a new US$1 trillion climate financing objective. Mr Starmer said he would maintain the previous Conservative government's financial pledges until the 2025-26 tax year, but there would be no guarantees of fresh money from the UK to help developing nations achieve their climate objectives in Baku.

"I will be making an argument powerfully that now is the time for the private sector to start paying their fair share," he said. He said that it was "high time" that participants "played their part in this" .