British premier pledges 81% emissions cut by 2035 at UN climate conference

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to the global stage Tuesday at COP29 to deliver a message about the UK’s out ambitious targets to tackle the climate crisis. In his first public address at the UN climate summit, Starmer framed the choices ahead as "two paths" -- one defined by inaction and another that embraces "the opportunities for tomorrow." Starmer committed to a bold new target to reduce the country’s emissions by 81% by 2035, relative to 1990 levels. He described the climate challenge as a springboard for investment, better jobs and pioneering new technology, highlighting that the UK has a "race on for the next generation of jobs" in the renewable sector.

"I want to be in it and I want to win it," he declared. Starmer outlined steps taken in his first 100 days in office, including the closure of the UK’s final coal power plant and the removal of the ban on onshore wind. Those actions, he stated, are part of a strategic move toward achieving the government's "clean power 2030 mission," one of the five cornerstone projects of his administration. Asked by the BBC about the personal costs of the measures for the British public, Starmer emphasized that he had no intention of “dictating how people live their lives.” He acknowledged that while the targets are ambitious, he wants to provide clarity around the path forward without imposing lifestyle mandates. For Starmer, reaching the 2030 clean power mission is "vital" to the UK's future, yet he reassured citizens that the focus would remain on creating opportunities, not constraints.