“The way I see it, there are two paths forward,” Starmer said at a press conference at the Baku summit on Tuesday. “The first is a path of inaction and delay that will lead to further decline and vulnerability. Warming beyond 1.5C will expose hundreds of others.” In the UK, thousands more people will face the risk of flooding, greater economic instability and national instability.
“Or second, the path we walk requires us to keep our eyes open and steadfast, not only for today’s challenges, but also for tomorrow’s opportunities. “This is the path to national security, energy independence, and economic stability needed to improve workers’ living standards.”
He added, “There can be no global security without climate security.”
Starmer used the summit to announce the UK’s new climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 levels by 2035.
Asked whether stretch goals would include changes to people’s lifestyles, such as reducing meat consumption, Starmer said: “We’re not going to set out to tell people how to live their lives.” He highlighted the importance of the government’s plan to cut gas from the UK’s electricity system by 2030 as a key contributor to climate targets.
